Yvonne King: former New Forest magistrate and longtime yacht club member

A FORMER New Forest magistrate and longstanding member of the Royal Lymington Yacht Club has died aged 91.

Yvonne King spent most of her childhood in Canford Cliffs, Bournemouth, and was educated at Talbot Heath School.

She went on to train at the Royal Academy for Dramatic Arts in London before becoming only the second English woman to join the highly successful show Holiday on Ice, with which she ice-skated her way around America.

In 1951 she met and married Michael King who had been an officer in the Royal Navy during the Second World War and later became a judge.

Yvonne and Michael spent their married life in the Brockenhurst and Lymington areas. She was a member of the Royal Lymington Yacht Club for 52 years, supporting Michael in his role as commodore 1986 to 1988. He died in 2008.

After being appointed as a justice of the peace Yvonne spent many years sitting in Southampton courts.

Her three children, Wendy, Chris and David, said she supported many charities and good causes, and had been a great patron of the arts, especially theatre.

“She has had a wonderful and love-filled life during which she has touched the lives of so many in her open, caring and hospitable way. We are incredibly proud and thankful to have been able to call her our mum,” they said.

Yvonne is also survived by five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren

There will be a celebration of her life at noon on 12th July at St John the Baptist’s Church, Boldre. All are welcome, family flowers only.

Donations in her memory can be made to Oakhaven Hospice, Operation Smile or Mission to Seafarers.