A WEST Wight woman who devoted a huge part of her life to serving her community, has died.

Marion Brettell was behind the Isle of Wight Alzheimer Cafe receiving the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2019.

She headed up the Totland branch of Alzheimer Cafes and was chair of trustees of the Islandwide organisation.

Mrs Brettell, 76, of Totland Bay, was a much-loved member of Christ Church, Totland, and known as a whizz on the PA system.

She also co-founded the West Wight Dementia Choir, co-led the Our Place Community Café and was integral to the smooth running of the West Wight Arts Association, Ventnor Botanic Artists and West Wight Painting Circle.

Many of her friends were unaware she was such a talented artist of botanical watercolours.

In partnership with Churches Together in West Wight, she co-founded and organised the West Wight Dementia Friendly Services.

She was a member and active participant of Yarmouth Sailing Club and Royal Solent Yacht Club, owning an X boat and latterly a scow.

In the 1980s she was involved with, and was subsequently president of, West Wight Inner Wheel.

Born in Shoreham by Sea, Sussex, in 1944, she went to art college, became a graphic designer and moved to London in 1963 to work.

There she met Keith, and the couple married and moved to Stoke D’Abernon in Surrey to start a family.

They moved to the Island in 1980, buying Saunders Hotel in Freshwater Bay. After selling the hotel in 1990, Mrs Brettell went into nautical retail.

Later, after nursing her father, she became interested in caring for the elderly, which led to jobs as activities coordinator at Green Meadows Methodist Home, carer at Eden House and manager of Abbeyfield Yarmouth.

She leaves her husband Keith, daughters Lucy, Kate and Jo, grandchildren Lewis, Izzy, Alex and Martha, and great grandchildren Darcie and Louie.

A private family cremation will take place.