Dorset Community Foundation has been left more than £1 million by a Christchurch antiques’ expert.

José Hampton, who died aged 97 last September, was married to antiques dealer Gerry Hampton and their business, Hamptons Antiques in Purewell, was well known all over the South West for more than 50 years.

The family’s Hampton Fund will provide an enduring resource to help the community foundation fund grass roots voluntary groups and community groups, said its director Grant Robson.

Family friend Rosemarie Groves said Mrs Hampton loved Christchurch and the surrounding area. She said: “She and Gerry enjoyed their life together in the area and it doesn’t surprise me that she wanted to do something to support it. She had mentioned this many times over the years, and it is lovely knowing her wishes have come to fruition.

“They were never blessed with children but José had a strong sense of community and also hated seeing children suffer, supporting charities as often as she could.”

Mrs Hampton was born in Southampton in 1924 and met her future husband while ice skating in Bournemouth. Mr Hampton, who was nine years older, ran his antiques business from what had been his family’s grocery shop

After a long courtship the couple married in 1964 but by then Mrs Hampton had become a vital part of the business as manageress and a furniture restorer.

Mr Hampton died in 2011 aged 96. After his death his private collection of antique watches and clocks was sold at auction.

“We have learnt that some of those clocks hadn’t been circulated for many years and their sale caused considerable excitement among collectors,” said Mrs Groves.

Mrs Hampton donated a Robert Cox long case clock to Christchurch Borough Council in March 2013 in his memory. It still sits in the Mayor’s Parlour.

Grant Robson said: “This wonderful legacy will ensure that José and Gerry and their love for each other and the place they called home will never be forgotten.

“The fund is there forever and it will go on providing money to make peoples’ lives better. What better memorial than that?”