Jean Sadler, an iconic and well loved local figure known for her fondness for extravagant hats, has passed away.

Known to many in Falmouth as the lady in the hat who sat in the window of Oliver's restaurant every day at lunch time, Mrs Sadler passed with her family at her side on March 14 at the age of 91.

Wendy Symons, the owner of Oliver's, said: "She was an incredibly charismatic character.

"She was just an amazing all round person, her views on life were amazing."

Wendy spoke about how Jean had an "understanding approach to life" and would follow trends in music, one of her favourite bands being Mumford and Sons.

On her daily trips to the restaurant for lunch, the two used to talk about everything from the Glastonbury festival to Jean's experience living as a woman in the 1950s.

Wendy mentioned that "she said she sailed through life," and that "she could communicate with any generation."

She went on to say: "You could discuss any topic with her of any sort.

"People still remember her and ask about her, even visitors to Falmouth."

Originally from Derbyshire, Jean moved to Falmouth 30 years ago and having been an accountant by trade, was a valued volunteer at The Poly for 17 years, helping to run the box office and keep the books.

Linda Williams, Jean's sister, said: "She always thought Falmouth was a wonderful place because she could look out over the water and pick out the boats."

According to Linda, Jean was a very private person, and so close family members held a small service to lay her to rest.

But when she was carrying out all the arrangements after Jean's death, Linda kept finding herself running into people that knew her sister, like the person at the registrar's office and the charity shop worker who sorted through Jean's old clothes.

She said: "I couldn't believe it, it made me smile because I thought she was a bit like a Walter Mitty character. She never went anywhere without the hat.

"I don't know that side of her very well."

Jean had been a regular customer at Oliver's restaurant since it first opened in 2009, and had lunch there every day for the last four years.

She would walk up and down the four flights of stairs from her Greenbank apartment to make the trip to her favourite restaurant, even at the age of 90.

She would sit in the window and watch passers-by, occasionally waving to one or happily posing for a photo.

Susie Stokes, Jean's neighbour, said: "Whenever anyone stopped Jean for a chat she would smile and answer politely.

"If it rained she rarely put up an umbrella but would saunter carefully up the hill looking gorgeous in her hats and beautifully tailored clothes."