THE funeral of popular Newport landlord Roger Boswell will take place next Thursday.

Mr Boswell, 66, ran the Hanbury Arms in Caerleon in the 1960s and 1970s before becoming landlord at the Engineers’ Arms in Baneswell for the 20 years before his retirement in 1999.

He died on April 2 after a battle with prostate cancer which had also led to liver problems.

He leaves behind his wife of 35 years Diane, daughter Rebecca, 40, from Somerton, and two grandchildren, Robert, 19, and Lauren, 15.

His funeral will be held on April 15 at Newport Cathedral at 2pm, followed by a burial at St Woolos Cemetery.

Mr Boswell requested prior to his death that no one attending the funeral should wear mourning dress.

After retiring from the pub trade in 1999, Mr Boswell went to work as a bus driver for Newport Transport.

Mrs Boswell said her husband was “well-loved” at Newport Transport, and enjoyed working with there before he was forced to retire two years ago when he was diagnosed with cancer.

Mrs Boswell, 65, paid tribute to her husband, saying: “You endless, unbreakable, enchanting man and you were mine. I’ll walk tall for you, that’s how it is is.”

Another message for Mr Boswell “from all the gang at the Milk Machine” read: “Treasured memories and our special mate, too good to be forgotten.”

Mr Boswell’s family asked for donations in lieu of flowers to be made to the St David’s Foundation.