What Ann Summers tycoon Jacqueline Gold said about her breast cancer diagnosis trends now

Jacqueline Gold, who died of breast cancer yesterday aged 62, was best known for growing sex shop chain Ann Summer's into a high street behemoth. 

But she also won praise for speaking openly about the string of personal tragedies she suffered - including her struggle with the disease that would go on to take her life. 

The businesswoman - who died on Thursday evening just ten weeks after losing her West Ham owner father David - spent seven years fighting stage 4 cancer, having briefly been given the all clear in 2020. 

She also tragically lost her baby boy Alfie at eight months, following an emotional IVF battle that saw her fall pregnant with twins at 48 with her husband Dan Cunningham, 31.  

Jacqueline was surrounded by close family when she died, including her husband, daughter and her sister Vanessa, who became Ann Summers's CEO last year and today described her sibling as 'an absolute warrior' having been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016 - the year she was handed a CBE.  

Jacqueline's famous father, the co-chairman of West Ham United, rose from abject East End poverty to a £500million fortune. 

He died after a short illness on January 4 aged 86. He invited Jacqueline to join Ann Summers on an internship in 1981, after which she launched the Ann Summers party to grow the brand.

Around ten years later, Ms Gold was then made a director of the business before swiftly being named as its chief executive officer.

She continued to lead the business, which has 81 stores, in recent years as executive chair alongside her sister Vanessa, who is now chief executive officer.

She was made an CBE in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to entrepreneurship, women in business and social enterprise.

Jacqueline had spoken out about how she was coping with cancer in a LinkedIn post last summer, telling followers that while it was 'no secret I have been through a lot of tragedy in my life' she was trying to emphasise the positives. 

'Whilst I would prefer things to have been different, I cope by finding the opportunity in a bad situation,' she wrote. 

'For example, if it wasn't for my breast cancer diagnosis six years ago I wouldn't be living my best life now. 

'If you train your mind to find the positive in every event you will banish worry and feel empowered.' 

A statement from the Gold family said: 'It is with unspeakable sadness that Ann Summers confirm our amazing executive chair Jacqueline Gold CBE passed away yesterday evening with her husband Dan, daughter Scarlett, sister Vanessa, and brother-in-law Nick, by her side'.

Jacqueline was last pictured laying flowers for her father in the East End of London on the day of her father's funeral two months ago. She was heartbroken at this death and said at the time that the Gold family had lost 'our hero'.

Jacqueline was made a CBE in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to entrepreneurship, women in business and social enterprise. 

In the same year she was diagnosed with breast cancer, which she credited with transforming her life because it forced her to enjoy things more.

She wrote last year: 'It's no secret I have been through a lot of tragedy in my life. Whilst I would prefer things to have been different, I cope by finding the opportunity in a bad situation. For example, if it wasn't for my breast cancer diagnosis six years ago I wouldn't be living my best life now. If you train your mind to find the positive in every event you will banish worry and feel empowered'.  

As well as battling breast cancer, she had also battled adversity to have children. After a failed marriage she met Dan Cunningham, a City broker 17 years her junior. 

They split in 2006 after three failed IVF attempts - but got back together and married in 2010.  In 2009 the couple lost their son Alfie at eight months.

The multi-millionaire businesswoman was told he had an abnormality that meant he would not survive childbirth.

But the little boy fought for eight months after birth but was never well enough to leave hospital. Alfie's twin sister, Scarlett, survived and was her mother's pride and joy.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs in 2018, Jacqueline said: 'Alfie did survive the birth. He was crying when he was born but not as babies do - he was crying because he was in pain. No mother should have to go through that, to hear her child cry in pain.'

She added: 'I desperately want my daughter to grow up believing she can be whatever she wants to be.' 

Her father David said she and her sister Vanessa had transformed the brand. Two months ago he died with his daughters, Jacqueline and Vanessa, and his fiancée Lesley by his side. 

When David Gold bought Ann Summers with his brother Ralph in 1972, it had four stores.

The London-based company served as a standard sex shop under the ownership of its founder, Michael Caborn-Waterfield.

In 1981 Jacqueline was brought into the company. She quickly set about making her mark, introducing the 'Party Plan' concept.

This would see 'parties' held at the homes of customers, where women would be given presentations on sex toys and lingerie, as well as play party games. These proved extremely popular and a good way of getting around laws that prevented sex toys being put on public display.

Ann Summers now has 80 high street stores in Britain and Ireland, and in the years since has become synonymous with the sale of lingerie and adult toys.