The traditional music scene in the island lost one of its brightest lights on Monday, August 9.

Wendy Joan Hurst, of Port-e-Vullen, Maughold, passed away peacefully at Hospice Isle of Man after a short illness.

Many will know her for her presence at Gilbert O’Sullivan’s Friday Trad Irish Session at The Mitre Hotel, which she attended for the 21 years since its inception.

In subsequent social media posts, it was said she will be remembered for ’her laugh, her wicked sense of humour, her directness and, above all, her kindness.’

As Breesha Maddrell put it, Wendy was: ’A formidable woman in all the right ways - fighting for the environment, for justice, for family. A huge inspiration to so many young musicians, too.’

For husband Bob, no one could sum up Wendy better than this. So, forgive me for my attempt:

She led a truly extraordinary life.

Wendy was born in Preston, England - ’Only because her mother risked a ferry trip from the Isle of Man during the war to see her father who was in the army at the time. Otherwise, she’d have been born true Manx.’

She was born into a family of hoteliers, and loved to ride horses from an early age. Aged 17, she left the island for the bright lights of London.

Her career path included being a ’temp’ for big companies like Sony and EMI, delivering cars, training as a teacher (and then specialising in woodwork and metal work), owning a pub with her late sister Vicky, retraining as a careers officer, teaching English as a foreign language and working as a student counsellor!

In amongst all of this, she still had time to marry a marathon runner, Roger - the late father of her daughters, Nicky and Sarah.

She met husband Bob in the eighties, and eventually relocated back to the island in 1995, initially without him!

In 2005, Wendy’s beloved sister Vicky passed away, and as a result she and Bob became legal guardians of her then teenaged nieces Gemma and Beccy.

In retirement, Wendy concentrated on campaigning for animal welfare and the environment, something which she was still doing until only a few weeks before her passing.

She was a passionate conservationist, taking on many campaigns, and she even saved the Port e Vullen rookery from being destroyed. She loved donkeys. She was an unstoppable force of nature.

A Manx speaker, but always very modest about it, Wendy loved music of many genres and played the B/C button accordian (tuned for Irish trad music) and Anglo concertina.

Her passion for music influenced many a young mind.

’She would always encourage, nudge, persuade young nervous musicians to play at sessions,’ said Bob, ’This, she said, would give them the confidence they needed.’

It is difficult to summarise her life on one page, but it is safe to say it must have been an honour to have known her.

A private funeral service will take place next week. Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to Manx Wild Bird Aid or Hospice Isle of Man.