FOUNDER of a solicitors firm, Harry Ellis, has died at the age of 100.

Harry was born in Newport in Wales and after attending Newport High School, he went to Cardiff University to study law, and was admitted to the roll of solicitors of England and Wales on May 1, 1939.

Later that year he married Amy, his childhood sweetheart, who was also prominent in the local community and served as a Justice of the Peace for many years. The couple went on to welcome a son, Jonathan.

Harry became a well-known member of the Bournemouth law community through his firms Mitchell and Ellis, Harry Ellis and Co, Ellis, Belcher and Co and, latterly, Ellis Fowler Belcher.

The current Ellis Jones was an amalgamation of Ellis Fowler Belcher and Frank Jones and Co.

Harry served as president of the Bournemouth & District Law Society from 1973 to 1974.

Even after formal retirement, Harry continued as a consultant to Ellis Jones Solicitors until fairly recently.

Outside of work, he joined Bournemouth Hebrew Congregation in 1940 and was an integral part and a leader of the congregation.

Aged 31, he was elected treasurer in 1947 and he would go on to serve the community in various capacities for the next 70 years.

Harry was first elected president of Bournemouth Hebrew Congregation in 1950 and he held this office on no less than five occasions. In 1965 he became a trustee of the congregation, an office he held up to this death.

Harry was the toast of a special party in July organised by Ellis Jones Solicitors, the Dorset and New Forest law firm which bears his name.

Nigel Smith, Ellis Jones’ managing partner, described Harry as a 'legal legend' and said that Harry had retired by the time that he had joined the firm, but felt privileged to help to organise Harry's 100 birthday celebrations.

He described Harry as 'great company and a fantastic story teller.' Nigel added that he saw Harry the week before he passed away and said that he was on good form, insisting on sharing some whisky with Nigel.

He died on December 23 with his funeral being held three days later.