A woman who will be remembered for her role in the building of the West Wight Swimming Pool, and teaching thousands of adults and children to swim has died aged 88.

Shirley Miles (nee Greenen) was born on March 18, 1934, in East Cowes.

At the age of eight, Shirley's home was bombed during one of several bombing raids in 1942 and Shirley and her family were moved to Station Road in Yarmouth.

Shirley started school in East Cowes and then went to Yarmouth Primary and then onto Newport Grammar School.

She took part in the Isle of Wight Music Festival where she won awards for her beautiful voice.

She became a Brownie and a Girl Guide and enjoyed singing in a church choir.

Shirley was also well known as secretary for the local horticultural society and for the local coastguard offices at Totland.

She worked in Yarmouth Milk Bar before becoming an office clerk at Saunders Roe.

Here she met her future husband, William Miles.

They married in 1954 and moved to Freshwater where they raised three children, Kevin, Nicola and Tracey.

Shirley was widowed in 1996 after many happy years together.

Shirley and her husband Bill had a keen interest in exhibiting flowers in local horticultural shows, spending hours in the garden and travelling to America every year.

She will, however, be best remembered for her significant role in being a founder member of the West Wight Swimming Club in the 1970s that led to the successful building of the West Wight Swimming Pool.

Shirley received numerous awards including the BEM for dedication to swimming and teaching; and a lifetime achievement award at the IW Sports Awards in 2018.

Shirley finished her career on a high having achieved a lifelong ambition to write and publish a book. The book It All Started With a Hole in the Ground is a collection of memories and stories about the humble beginnings and successful building of the West Wight Sports and Community Centre.

Shirley passed away peacefully on August 5 at Mountbatten hospice.

She is survived by her three children, five grandchildren,four great grandchildren, two great great grandchildren and her brother.

She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Shirley's funeral will be held at St James's Church, Yarmouth, on August 23, at 1pm.