BORN and raised in Godshill, William Albert (Bill) Page has died in his adopted country of Australia, with members of his family by his side.

Mr Page, 77, had cancer. His funeral was held at Northcliffe Chapel, Kembla Grange, in New South Wales.

He was born on November 7, 1943, to Albert and Mildred Page (nee Denness) and was raised in Godshill, firstly at Merryl Cottages then Elm Court.

He attended Godshill Junior School then Ventnor Secondary School, where he became head boy.

After leaving school he went to police college and joined the Surrey Constabulary, stationed at Farnham and Guildford.

He married to June Patricia Whitaker in 1966. They moved into married quarters in Haslemere where they had two sons, David born in 1967 and Stephen born in 1969.

During his time in Surrey, he became the leader of a scout group.

In 1970 the family emigrated to Australia as '£10 poms'. After a six-week voyage, they arrived to find a promised job did not materialise, but Mr Page gained employment as a luggage handler at Sydney Airport.

He went on to work for the probation and parole service.

A third son, Grant, was born in 1971, followed by a daughter, Melany, in1973.

For a time, they lived in Warilla, before moving to Woolongong 60 miles south of Sydney, where the couple fostered another son, Nathanial.

Mr and Mrs Page were keen on craft work and became very accomplished with leather work.

Mr Page was also a keen gardener and a skilled cake decorator.

Mrs Page died in 1994, and Mr Page devoted himself to his family.

He leaves his four sons and daughter, but also 26 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren.

Mr Page returned to the Island several times for holidays, one of which coincided with the last open day for ex-pupils at Ventnor Secondary before its demolition in 2011.

On the Island, he leaves his only sibling, Richard, and sister-in-law Julie. Also, a cousin, Joan Barnes and her children, Sandra, Karen and David (Barney).