ISLE of Wight resident, horse breeder and yachtswoman, Anne Jacobs, has died aged 80.

Born in 1940, Mrs Jacobs first lived in London, but due to the blitz, moved to East Sussex to live with her grandparents.

She later moved with her mother to Devon, while her father served overseas.

Following the war, she was brought up in Bletchingley, Surrey, where her mother ran a riding school.

With the school on her doorstep, she became an accomplished and highly qualified rider.

She completed her education in Switzerland, before starting work at Peter Jones ­— a department store in London.

She married David in 1960 ­— a serving Army officer ­— and they spent the first few years of their married life in Malaya, where Mr Jacobs had been posted with his regiment.

While in Malaya, Mrs Jacobs maintained her interest in horses and became a female jockey, finishing second in one of the very first all-women Singapore derbies.

After Mr Jacobs left the army, the couple lived in Berkshire, where they brought up their three children.

The couple developed a keen love of sailing, and made the decision to move to Shalfleet and take up farming.

Afforded the opportunity to devote time to her passion for horses, she ran a successful stud farm breeding Connemara ponies.

Living by the sea, she was able to spend many more happy years sailing, racing on a Contessa 32 and a Swan 36, often acting as a skilled navigator.

She became a lady associate member of the Royal Yacht Squadron during Mr Jacobs' election in 1985.

Following their retirement from racing, the couple helped assist the racing committee at Cowes Week, as well as other Island regattas from aboard Isla, their Dale Nelson.

Throughout her life, Mrs Jacobs took every opportunity to travel, and fell in love with India, which the couple visited many times.

She was a keen gardener and an active member of the community, opening their much loved gardens to the public, partaking in fundraising and hosting social events.

A long-time resident of Shalfleet, and latterly Newtown, Mrs Jacobs died on October 26, following a long battle with Alzheimers.

She is survived by her husband, sons Simon and Hugo, daughter Lara and nine grandchildren.