Tributes paid to much-loved residential home owner who has died at 86

TRIBUTES have been paid to the well-known proprietor of Dorchester residential home, Culliford House.

The family of Rita Moors said they were sad to announce her passing on September 23 aged 86.

Her funeral was held last month.

Mrs Moors was born in 1933 and spent her childhood with her three siblings at Parsonage Farm, Fordington during the Second World War.

She was said to be a very talented young pupil and went on to study shorthand for 12 months at Weymouth technical college.

On leaving college, Mrs Moors went on to work for Thurman’s and Tilley’s of Dorchester before owning the shop and post office at Fordington where she worked as a postmistress for 22 years.

Before owning Culliford House, Mrs Moors and her late husband Reginald also owned Montrose residential home in Prince of Wales Road.

Rita and Reginald had three sons, Adrian, David, and Nigel, and a daughter, Suzanne.

Her family said she was very well known locally and had been the proprietor of Culliford House for 35 years.

Culliford House is a privately-owned residential care home which Mrs Moors and her daughter Suzanne have been running since 1984.

Suzanne used to help her parents at Montrose residential home by preparing breakfast for the residents’ before going to school.

At the age of 18 Suzanne decided she wanted to specialise in elderly care and worked full time for her parents.

In 1984 they moved to a larger property, which was the start of Culliford House.

Mrs Moors maintained an active role until 1993 when she stepped back from the day to day running and Suzanne assumed control.

Suzanne is married with one daughter and hopes the business will continue in the family for generations to come.

Colleague of Mrs Moors, Jeanette A’Court, explained that even after stepping down, she was still "very much a presence at Culliford House, attending Christmas meals, Easter teas, staff meetings and would always personally thank staff for all their hard work".

Suzanne hopes the business will continue in the family for generations to come.