CARMELA 'Sue' Giles, former co-owner of the yacht chandlers and ironmongers store, Harwoods of Yarmouth, has died aged 92.

Born on July 16, 1927, above Harwoods, Mrs Giles was educated in Yarmouth and at Carisbrooke Convent.

During the war, she remained in Yarmouth, working in the store, and post war, a double tragedy struck when her brother Frank died of tuberculosis and her mother died of cancer.

Sue became a carer to her father, and older brother, Jack.

Upon the death of her father in 1971, the shop was refurbished, during which time a well was discovered in the middle of the store, together with a cluster of French cannonballs ­— thought to date back to a Gaelic invasion.

She met her husband, Roger, in 1954, and they married in 1956, in Yarmouth.

They had two children ­— Ann and Pete ­— and four grandchildren — Tom, Sam, Charlotte and Hope.

Mrs Giles continued to help run the family business, overcoming a fire that gutted the shop in 1976.

The business was sold in 1988, and Mr and Mrs Giles ­— along with Jack and Pauline Harwood ­— all retired, but continued to live in the town.

Mr Giles died in 2000.

The Yarmouth community was very important to Mrs Giles, and she was a great supporter of Yarmouth Carnival. She was delighted when her granddaughter Hope won the Spirit of Yarmouth Carnival trophy in 2019.

Mrs Giles was part of a small group that helped form Yarmouth Sailing Club in 1969, and although not part of any committees, played her part in the background, baking cakes and helping children learn to sail.

One of her highlights was presenting the regatta prizes in 1978, and she was bestowed a life membership a few years ago.

She enjoyed travelling to France and Italy, and especially enjoyed her cruise onboard the Canberra, around the Norwegian fjords.

Other hobbies included reading ­— particularly autobiographies ­— listening to classical music and watching opera.

She spent her last three years in Cherry Trees Care Home in Cowes and died on December 22.