MBE awarded, Isle of Wight NHS community senior nurse manager, Barbara Gray, has died at the age of 83.

Mrs Gray was born in Liverpool, the youngest of four daughters to Gertrude and Edward Coldrick.

She worked in Liverpool as a children's nurse for five years, before moving to India in 1959.

She worked at the South India Mission Hospital in Bangalore for several years, and qualified as a midwife and health visitor on her return to England.

She moved to Freshwater Bay in 1966, with her husband, Peter.

After the death of her husband, she moved to Ryde and became a trustee of The Brigstocke Almshouses charity.

Mrs Gray retired in 1991, returning to India several times, staying in ashrams and teaching yoga to the children there, having studied Buddhism. She also taught yoga from home.

She also travelled to Italy many times over the years, as an opera fan.

Mrs Gray will be remembered for her community midwife and health visitor services on the Island, and she was awarded an MBE in the Queen's birthday honours, for her services in paediatrics and childcare.

Mrs Gray is survived by her younger brother, Graham, and his wife, Jennifer, who she spent many holidays with at their Spanish home.

A funeral service will be held at 11am on Tuesday, August 6, at Springwood Cemetery, Newchurch.