The Long Road to Champneys: The Extraordinary Life of a Pioneering Spa Queen - Hardcover

How does a girl from an impoverished background become one of the world's most influential spa operators? Dorothy Purdew is the entrepreneurial force behind Champneys, an empire employing over 2000 people and one of the most iconic brands in the world. The Champneys spa group is the culmination of over forty years' worth of dedication, work and fun and despite its global success it is, at heart, still a very much loved family business. This extraordinary woman has been an inspiration to so many, enabling a wide range of people across the world to enjoy spa experiences. Dorothy Purdew's story is a fascinating and heart-warming tale of a loved and respected businesswoman whose services to the spa industry and charity works gained her the accolade of OBE in 2008.

Dorothy Purdew (Hertfordshire), 74, opened her first health farm, Frimleys, in 1970. With her son Stephen, she went on to buy Henlow Grange, Springs, Forest Mere and finally Champneys, where her clients have included David and Victoria Beckham, Barbara Windsor and Naomi Campbell. The chain is now valued at GBP100m and is one of the largest spa companies in the world.