Business leaders will be gathering at a memorial service to pay their respects to Coles Miller Solicitors founder Howard Cole who died on June 12.
Mr Cole died at his home just 24 hours before what would have been his 73rd wedding anniversary and eight weeks before what would have been his 100th birthday.
The memorial service of thanksgiving to honour his life and achievements will be held at 2.30pm on Sunday July 12 at Broadstone Methodist Church.
Mr Cole’s legal career began in the 1920s when he joined Poole law firm JW Miller & Sons as a legal clerk.
In 1954 Mr Cole founded his own firm HFJ Cole and was joined soon afterwards by his brother Arthur. At that time the firm was based in the High Street, Poole.
By 1972 the firm had three Partners - Howard Cole, Arthur Cole and Roger Senior - and had been renamed HFJ & AW Cole.
In 1989, the firm merged with JW Miller & Sons, Howard Cole’s original employer, to create Coles Miller.
Coles Miller grew significantly over the next quarter of a century, merging with two Bournemouth firms: Charminster-based Mills Bushnell in 1992 and DTW Solicitors (formerly Derek T Wilkinson) on the East Cliff in 2007.
Three years ago Mr Cole and his wife Betty celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. They had met at Broadstone Methodist Church in their teens.
Mr Cole is survived by his widow Betty, their three children Susanne, Rosemary and Andrew, their five grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
If you wish to attend the memorial service, please confirm attendance with the Coles Miller Marketing Department, 01202 673011.
