TRIBUTES have been paid toawell-known shopkeeper, Conservative and former Canvey Carnival chairman.

Mary Dallas, who owned a string of shops on the island and ran the carnival for many years, died of heart failure, aged 92.

The great-grandmother-offour, of Meadway, owned a greengrocer’s, pet shop and Suzanne’s Florist, in Canvey High Street.

Mrs Dallas, whose father founded Canvey Carnival, was a member of women’s group Canvey Distaff Club and an honorary member of Canvey Conservative Club.

Her son Brian, 68, of Dovercliff Road, Canvey, said: “She was a bit larger than life.

"She was one of those people you couldn’t ignore in a room.

"I don’t mean she was loud, she would be involved with things.

“She wasn’t an extra in the film of life.”

Mrs Dallas was born in Southend, but moved to Canvey with her family, who were travelling showmen, in the Twenties.

Her father, Ted Andrews, a member of the Showmen’s Guild, had the EW Andrews Arcade in May Avenue and the fairground next door, which had a carousel, chair-o-plane and coconut shy. Marymet soldier Percival “Dinky” Dallas, who was stationed on Canvey before heading to fight in France, Belgium and Germany in the Second World War.

They married in Southend in 1943. Mr Dallas, who helped rebuild Canvey seawall after the 1953 floods, was a gas distribution engineer.

The couple had daughters Susan Dallas, 48, of Meadway, and Yvonne Bartels, 70, of Benfleet, sons Eric, 58, of The Parkway, Canvey, and Brian, and five grandchildren.

Mrs Dallas moved from working at a chemist’s inHope Road to opening a greengrocer’s in High Street.

She then launched a pet shop, followed by Suzanne’s Florist.

Brian said: “She used to have mainly family working for her. Yvonne, Susan and my wife all worked there.

“It was more of a family business, with mum directing traffic.

“She wouldn’t be too hands on with the florist, but would put people in there who got the job done.”

After taking over from her father, Mrs Dallas oversaw Carnival Carnival’s heyday, and was still involved as its popularity dwindled in the Nineties.

The carnival restarted in 2011 after an 11-year absence.

The funeral is at St Nicholas Church, in Long Road, Canvey, at 11am on May 6.

People are welcome to offer flowers or donate to charity Help for Heroes in Mrs Dallas’s memory.