Pearl Patricia Clara Shaw (nee Wright) died peacefully at the age of 95 on August 27 at Downside House, Ventnor.

Born in Ryde to Emily and Wallace Wright, Pearl was one of nine children growing up in Harding Road.

She attended Gassiot Girls School and was a member of the choir. Pearl was very fond of this and they would perform at Ryde Town Hall regularly.

After leaving school aged 14, Pearl took her first job at The Cosy Nook, a cafe and cake shop in Ryde.

She then worked at seasonal jobs at Ajax Photo Company, for a local vet and his wife and Dores hardware store until the outbreak of the Second World War and she was called up for service.

After failing her fitness test, she was drafted to work at a factory in Southampton training to be an aircraft fitter. Ill health meant she returned home to Harding Road where she helped her mother with household and childcare duties.

During the war, she met her future husband, RAF pilot Harold Shaw. They married in 1947 in a double wedding with Pearl's younger brother Terry and his fiance, Mary.

As Harold was from a farming family, Pearl and Harold initially lived and worked at Belmont Farm, Newport. Their farming work then took them to Gatcombe Manor Farm before settling in Wydcombe Farm, Whitwell.

The couple had five children — Stephen, Linda, Delma, Terence and Lisa — before Harold passed away in 1981 after a short battle with cancer.

A highlight of Pearl's life was appearing on the John Junkin TV show after she wrote to the show and asked to fulfil a lifelong dream of dancing the Can-Can with a troupe on television.

Pearl leaves four children, eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Her funeral is to be held today (Friday (21)) at 1pm at St Mary and St Rhadegund Church, Whitwell.