AWARD-WINNING charity volunteer Jane Dollery has died.
She died peacefully the day before her 72th birthday, of the lung condition pulmonary fibrosis, surrounded by her family.
Born in Shanklin on August 29, 1945, to entertainer Bob and Audrey Miller, she attended The Fairway School, Sandown.
She left to become a hairdresser and owned several salons, including Nikki Jane’s in Ventnor.
Her entrepreneurial skills saw her run two pubs during the 1970s — The Vine Inn, St Helens, and The George Inn, Newport — then Rookley and Seaview post offices in the 1980s and 1990s.
However, it was for her charity work with the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society she will be best remembered.
A sufferer herself, she became secretary of the Island branch in 1995 — a role she held until she moved to Winchester two years ago to be near her children.
She opened a charity shop, cafe and treatment centre in Shanklin, winning the MS Society’s volunteer of the year award in 2011. Jane leaves her three children, Nicci, Mark and Paul, and eight grandchildren, Steve, Josh, Matt, Ben, Ellie, Katie, Charlie and Harry.
The Island branch of the MS Society has paid tribute to Mrs Dollery.
As the branch’s welfare officer and lead support volunteer, she offered practical support and a listening ear to hundreds of people with MS.
She was a tireless fundraiser and helped people access therapies to improve their health and wellbeing.
Lead support volunteer at the branch, Jennie Harrod, said: “Everyone was so proud of her. She not only put the IW on the map but also gave the people affected by MS here a voice.”
The group has a book of condolence at its shop in Regent Street, Shanklin.
A celebration of her life was held on Monday in Winchester.