SANDOWN-born lifesaver and former mayoress of the town, Olive Edna Saunders, died at her home last Thursday, aged 76.
An outstanding swimmer and fully trained lifeguard, she was a former chairman of the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) and trained many hundreds of people to swim, including the disabled. She also promoted water safety in Island schools.
As a 17 year old, she gained a Royal Humane Society award for bravery in helping save a swimmer from drowning. Mrs Saunders also received the RLSS President’s Honours award from Prince Michael.
Among her many community achievements, Mrs Saunders helped establish the Island’s first women’s refuge and the Saturday Night Club for people with disabilities.
She was also a governor of St John’s Primary School and was a Sandown carnival queen in the 1950s.
Born on February 13, 1934, she was the youngest of two children to Raymond and Edna Cousins.
Mrs Saunders grew up in Sandown and was educated at The Fairway Secondary Modern School.
When she left school, aged 15, Mrs Saunders worked for the family tobacconists and cafe, Churchill and Cousins, in High Street, Sandown.
When her first marriage ended in 1967, she developed the business into an off-licence, called Olive’s, eventually specialising in selling miniature collectables. Olive’s also incorporated a hair salon.
Mrs Saunders ran the business until 1987 and then concentrated on running her guest house in Albert Road, Sandown.
Concurrent to her role as a businesswoman, Mrs Saunders served on Sandown Town Council and was the town’s mayor between 2000 and 2001.
She married David Saunders in 1970, who died six years later.
Mrs Saunders is survived by five children, seven grandchildren, a great grandson and her brother, Walter Cousins.
Her funeral will be held at 2.15pm at St John’s Church, Sandown, on Monday. A private service at the IW Crematorium will follow.
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