A POPULAR landlady who ran a village pub near Hereford for 30 years has died aged 77.

Jacqueline Ann Williams, who ran the Bell Inn, died peacefully above the pub last Wednesday.

Born in Wrexham in 1938, Ms Williams attended Victoria School and though she was very bright, her academic career was cut short when she met Ken Williams and became pregnant at 16.

Pregnancy out of wedlock was frowned upon in the mid-1950s and with little support from immediate family, she left to stay with her aunt in Luton where she gave birth to her first child, Brent, and married Ken a month before the birth.

Less than two years later, Ms Williams became pregnant again and gave birth to her first daughter Kim. Two more children, Viki and then Glenn followed within the decade.

Her relationship with Ken became increasingly tempestuous and they separated in their early 50s.

Whilst her early education was incomplete, Ms Williams was determined to achieve something academically and qualified as a secondary school teacher in her mid-30s, teaching history and drama at Danum Gammar School in Doncaster.

She was well travelled and joined her husband, who was a project manager and mechanical engineer, to Norway, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Lebanon and Togo.

Later in life, she visited South America, Egypt and Madeira. Her last trip was with Brent and his wife Sally to Cambodia and Vietnam to see her grandson, Owen.

For the last 30 years, Jackie has been the heart and soul and the welcoming hostess of one of the county’s most popular country pubs.

With her son, Glenn, they transformed the old, tatty and dowdy Whitbread Brewery tenanted public house into something warm and welcoming for all.

Described by her family as a ‘strong, determined independent lady’, she enjoyed discussing politics and loved dancing and music.

A warm, welcoming, sociable person, nobody could fell lonely or isolated at The Bell.

She had nine grandchildren – Georgie, Sam, Katie, Angharad, Owen, Tilly, Fay, Fred and Stan.

She also had great grandchildren – Henry, Seth, Betsi, Josh, Jamie, Wilf and Effie.

All who knew Ms Williams are welcome to attend a humanist memorial service where her ashes will be scattered in Windmill Orchard – the field adjoining The Bell Inn at Tillington – at 12 midday on February 17.

Dress should be informal but stout shoes or wellies are suggested.