A WELL-KNOWN and respected figure in the East Cowes community, June Mary Robinson, has died at Northbrooke House, Havenstreet, aged 88.

Mrs Robinson, nee Elliott, endured as a teenager the devastating Luftwaffe bombing raid directed at the Cowes and East Cowes shipyards in 1942 and was one of the few surviving residents with memories of the attack.

She was the youngest of seven siblings, the daughter of George and Freda Elliott, and was educated at Grange Road School.

The family lived in Clarence Road where the house was badly damaged in the bombing and later at Orchard Road.

From childhood, she was a born performer and joined the Thora Williams dance troupe, taking to the stage as an accomplished dancer.

She had hoped to take this up as a career but instead worked in local shops.

In June 1952, she married Anthony Robinson at St James Church, East Cowes. He worked at Saunders-Roe in the test laboratory.

They had two children, Paul in 1957 and Sue in 1961.

Subsequently, she worked for over ten years at Gordon's Pharmacy and at the Waverley Caravan Park shop.

She enjoyed cooking — a skill acquired from her mother who had been cook to Lady Gort at East Cowes Castle — and continued her association with amateur dramatics as a prompter for the Wight Strollers.

She greatly enjoyed the music of Shirley Bassey, attending her very first concert.

After 85 years of living in East Cowes, increasing ill-health forced her to move to the care home for the final three years.

She died on March 5 and her memorial service took place last Wednesday at St James Church, East Cowes, followed by cremation at the IW Crematorium.

Her husband from whom she was separated pre-deceased her. She leaves her son Paul, daughter, Sue, and grand-daughters Sophie and Jocelyn.