THE widow of a popular former landlord from Newport who died after a battle with cancer yesterday paid tribute to a “wonderful human being”.

Roger Boswell, who managed two lively Gwent pubs, died aged 66 last Friday in his wife Diane’s arms.

The couple, who were married for 35 years, ran the Hanbury Arms in Caerleon in the 1960s and 70s and Baneswell’s Engineers’ Arms for 20 years until their retirement in 1999.

Mrs Boswell, 65, said retirement did not suit them because they had got used to being surrounded by people in busy pubs - and her husband was soon back in work as a bus driver for Newport Transport.

She said: “He was well-loved down at Newport Transport and enjoyed working with the boys."

Mr Boswell was forced to retire from bus driving two years ago when he developed prostate cancer, which also led to liver problems.

He also suffered from diabetes and spent most of the past five months at the Royal Gwent Hospital, but was moved to St Woolos Hospital for his last two weeks.

Mrs Boswell said the staff were fantastic to him at St Woolos, but that her family had been left heartbroken by his death.

“Roger was one of the biggest characters and the most kind man you could ever meet,” she said.

“He was such a wonderful human being.”

He leaves behind a daughter, Rebecca, 40, from Somerton, and two grandchildren, Robert, 19, and Lauren, 15.

The current landlady at The Engineers’ Arms, Fenella Hurley, 49, was introduced to the pub trade by Mr Boswell when he gave her a job as a waitress at The Hanbury Arms when she was 15.

She said: "He was a really happy bloke and well-liked because he was down-to-earth and very nice."

Plans are currently being finalised for his funeral, which is expected to take place in Newport on April 15.

“Roger was a very colourful man so it will be a colourful event,” Mrs Boswell added.