Obituary: Purewell Electrical co-founder Doreen Griffiths dies aged 87

THE co-founder of a longstanding Christchurch electrical shop has died aged 87.

Doreen Griffiths, who passed away on 14th March, set up Purewell Electrical with late husband Arthur in 1955. The couple lived above the shop for many years before moving to Barton in the 1970s.

The company, now based at the Meteor Retail Park, has been run for the last 20 years by their son Ian, his wife Rhiannon and grandson Edward.

Doreen was born in Lower Bockhampton, near Bransgore, on 1st April 1933 to parents Charles and Beatrice Bennett.

She attended Brockenhurst Grammar school until, aged 15, she left to commence employment at Les Frampton’s Haulage in Bransgore where she met her future husband, Arthur.

They married when Doreen was 21 and went on to have three children: Janet, Alan and Ian.

Doreen was a busy member of Christchurch Ladies Circle and the local Tangent group. She also helped Arthur as he established a building firm, Avon Valley estates, with his friend, business partner and Doreen's first employer, Les Frampton.

This was a very successful venture that built hundreds of homes locally between 1970 and 1990.

Doreen was passionate about gardening and hosted many charity fundraising events in her garden. Extended family and friends also enjoyed the seemingly limitless supply of home-grown vegetables.

Doreen and Arthur loved to travel the world together, exploring different countries and cultures. They were an adventurous couple and were fortunate to fly on Concorde several times. Arthur died in 2005.

Doreen enjoyed spending time with her family, which included her four grandchildren Lexa, William, Georgina and Edward. She also had five great-grandchildren, Abraham, Otis, Solomon and Arthur.

Donations in memory of Doreen, who was a devoted owner to many dogs, can be made to the Soi Dog Foundation at www.soidog.org.