CUMBRAE'S first ever queen has passed away.

Joan Robertson Anderson (nee Ferguson) was laid to rest in Millport New Cemetery's Garden of Remembrance.

She was born at Lady Margaret Hospital on 15 March 1953, the first child of James and Isabella Ferguson.

She spent an idyllic childhood on the island where her father managed the local Co-operative store (now the Premier Store) on Guildford Street.

In 1964, in her last year of primary school, Joan was given the honour of becoming the very first Cumbrae Queen.

She was crowned by Mrs Betty Roberts, wife of then-Provost Farquhar Roberts, and danced the first dance with legendary Scottish actor Duncan MacRae.

Joan was also named dux of Cumbrae Primary later that school year.

In 1965 her father secured new employment off the island and the family, now with six-week-old sister Elspeth, moved to Gourock in Inverclyde.

Joan commenced Gourock High School and later trained to be a nurse, working in the Operating Theatres of Inverclyde Royal Hospital for many years and rising in seniority to eventually become the department's nurse manager.

Joan married James Anderson in 1972 and two years later, when she was still only 21 years old, they found themselves rather unexpectedly the parents of triplet girls.

The family remained in Gourock but many family summer holidays were spent in Millport throughout the years.

She was delighted to take part in the Cumbrae queen's parade in 2002 to celebrate the Queen's golden jubilee.

Joan died of complications associated with younger-onset Alzheimer's Disease aged 65 and her ashes were recently interred in Millport New Cemetery.

She is survived by husband Jim, sister Elspeth, daughters Joanne, Carol, and Annette and six grandchildren.