THE owner of Dorset’s Lulworth Estate and beloved grandfather, Wilfrid Weld, has died aged 81.

Mr Weld, who is head of the Weld family and owner of the Lulworth Estate, died on Tuesday, December 3 in Tahiti, after being taken ill while travelling with his wife Sally.

He is credited with transforming the Lulworth Estate into a tourism-led business and, in the process, helping to make Durdle Door into an iconic landmark.

A spokesperson from the estate said: “The Lulworth Estate is one of the UK’s finest, privately-owned estates and has been owned by the same family since 1641.

“Wilfrid Weld led the transformation of the Lulworth Estate from a traditional landed estate, into a modern and self-supporting business powered by tourism and agriculture.

“Under his leadership he restored the great Lulworth Castle and established Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door as iconic, internationally-renowned landmarks.”

Mr Weld was a vice-president for the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust, and the son of Joseph Weld, who the charity's hospice in Dorchester is named after.

He was also the president of Dorset County Cricket Club, Dorset Master Thatchers, and the Dorset Blind Association. He was president of the Dorset Gardens Trust, and its first chairman in 1989.

In addition, he was vice-president of the Dorset Wildlife Trust and a patron of the Catholic Children’s Society in Plymouth, Headway Dorset and Hampshire County Cricket Club.

The Weld family have owned and managed the Lulworth Estate since 1641, but the estate itself can trace its heritage back to the 11th Century.

It was traditionally an agricultural estate, but underwent diversification to be one of the first to recognise regional tourism, opening its doors to visitors in the first part of the 20th century when a holiday park, parking and coastal footpaths were established.

The World Heritage Site status was awarded by UNESCO in 2001 and the site was formally opened by the Prince of Wales in 2002.

His funeral will be held on Tuesday, January 5 at 12pm at Lulworth Castle Chapel. Donations are being collected for SOS Children’s Villages in Tahiti and French Polynesia.