Rebecca Sinfield, who died suddenly last month, lived life to the full right to the end.

That included giving great service to the community, whether as a sympathetic ear, making tea for the elderly or being a key organiser of the Southern Agricultural show.

It was done with her trademark bright smile, always well dressed and often wearing stiletto heeled shoes - whatever the terrain.

Born in 1945, Rebecca was raised at Ballastroke, a farm in Ronague.

She was educated at Arbory Primary and Buchan school after gaining a scholarship.

In her early working life Rebecca worked in a variety of jobs at the Bay Queen Hotel in Port St Mary and for Port Erin Hotels.

She was also restaurant manager at the Colby Glen hotel.  

She retrained in computer skills and worked at Isle of Man Newspapers and Mannin Media.

Rebecca was a Port St Mary commissioner for several years, chairman for two years.

Fellow commissioner Bernadette Williams said: ’Her heart was in the village, she was very passionate about being a commissioner, she took it very seriously. She was forthright and not afraid to say what she felt. She was a pleasure to work, a lot of fun.’

She was also a member of the Southern Agricultural Show committee, more recently as president.

With friends she organised many fun nights in the town hall raising money for local charities. 

Her daughters Julie and Ruth said her home was always full of people, especially her grandchildren who would pop in for advice. She was not judgemental, she was always there for people.

It is characteristic that for her 70th birthday she had a tattoo of a stiletto done on her ankle.

Her death means a ’light has gone out’ said her daughters, but they agreed ’she would rather broadside into the grave, not fade away.’