TRIBUTES have been paid to leading Swindon businesswoman and a former Miss Thamesdown, Carole Gesman, who has died of cancer aged 49.

Carole, who had an eight-year-old son, Laurence, lost her eight-month fight against the condition at a hospice in Florida.

Friends and family have organised a memorial service to be held at St Michael’s and All Angels Church in Highworth, on November 27 at midday.

Close friend, Sue Huck, said: “We all aspire to live life to the full, but how many of us actually have the courage to take advantage of all the opportunities that come our way, even when they’re not always the easiest of options?

“Carole was a dynamic, fun-loving individual. She leaves behind a legacy of true inspiration that will live on with everyone who knew her, both at home and overseas.”

Carole was born in April 1959 and lived in Devon until the age of eight when she moved to Highworth, where she attended Southfield Junior, then Highworth Warneford School.

Crowned Miss Thamesdown in 1979, her beauty literally turned heads everywhere she went. Astrid Curzon, who had been friends with her for 30 years, said that Carole was “absolutely stunning – blessed with beauty queen looks, a business brain, and an entrepreneurial spirit. She was a beautiful person on the outside, and on the inside, and had just a great sense of humour and fun – we laughed so much.”

She added: “Whatever goal she set herself, she’d put her head down and go for it. There were no half measures with Carole. For example, she enjoyed sailing and so rather than just help out as a crew member, she enrolled in a RYA Yachtmaster course so that she could skipper boats too.”

In her early career, Carole, who was known in business circles as Carole Parker, worked for various local companies including SERC, Neville-Clarke, AJD Recruitment and EMO, before establishing her own recruitment business in March 1990 under the banner of Clarendon Parker Recruitment. Based in Old Town, the company grew steadily, despite the economic downturn of the early 1990s. In 1994, Carole moved to Dubai where she launched Clarendon Parker Middle East – the first recruitment agency of its kind in the United Arab Emirates.

Friend Elly Witcher said: “Carole's nickname ‘Pushy Parker’ was given to her by her friend and mentor from EMO, Mike Emery – it struck a chord with friends and business associates alike. Carole pushed the limits and made things happen, aided by her wicked sense of humour and good heart.

“If she fell flat on her face in the process, she’d simply pick herself up, dust herself down and look for the next challenge.”

Susie Bishop was a friend who Carole spent much time with in Dubai. She said: “Carole was enthusiastic about everything. She had such courage and single-minded determination. She always looked amazing – glamorous and sophisticated – everyone loved her.”

Carole married Gerard Gesman in Amsterdam in 1999 and their son Laurence was born in Dubai just three weeks before the beginning of the new millennium. Although she sold the business before moving to the United States in 2001, Clarendon Parker remains the largest locally based recruitment agency in the region.

While living in Dubai, Carole developed a keen interest in interior design. She also found time to train in the ancient art of Feng Shui and counted Benazir Bhutto among her clients, with whom she kept in touch until the Pakistani presidential candidate’s assassination in December 2007.

“Like everything else in her life, Carole embraced the subject wholeheartedly, travelling throughout the Far East to learn her subject well,” added Sue.

Carole moved to the United States in 2001, first to Houston, and then to Florida where she bought a business based in Palm Beach Gardens specialising in interior design and silk flower arrangements.

Throughout her time in Dubai and Florida, Carole made regular trips back to Highworth to see her family and friends – sister Wendy, cousin Sharon, her father Ron, and her mum, Joyce Birley, who sadly passed away in August 2003.

Last January, Carole was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma and she lost her battle with cancer on September 23 at the Good Samaritan Medical Centre in West Palm Beach.

A memorial celebration took place in West Palm Beach and Carole’s ashes were taken out to sea on a sailboat and released off the Florida coastline later that day.