Family, business acquaintances and countless friends heard with shock and profound regret of the death of Mrs Jill Bowen of the Lamb Inn at Cardigan, who was one of the longest serving licensees in South Ceredigion, North Pembrokeshire and the lower Teifi Valley.

Mrs Bowen died suddenly at her home on Tuesday, aged 69.

A native of Grays in Essex, she lived in the Cardigan area for many years where her late parents Bill and June were former mine hosts at the White Hart public house in St Dogmaels.

During her younger days she lived in the USA, Jamaica and South America where her father was employed and while in the Caribbean during the 1960s had the distinction of dancing with heavyweight boxing legend Muhammed Ali, who was then known as Cassius Clay while her mother danced with the great boxer’s manager Angelo Dundee.

On numerous occasions Mrs Bowen recalled the occasion when the fighter told her: “You move on the dancefloor better than some of my opponents in the ring.”

One of her next-door neighbours at the time was West Indies cricket icon Sir Gary Sobers and on the other side the Russian Ambassador whose son represented the Soviet Union in swimming at the Olympic Games. Mrs. Bowen, who was a top class swimmer in her own right, helped him with his training.

On one occasion celebrated cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, who was the first human to journey into outer space, visited and took Jill and her parents out for dinner.

She was immensely proud of her grandson Nathan, who won international rugby honours for Wales at Under 16 level and captained Welsh Colleges and also granddaughter Gemma who captained Welsh Girls Youth darts team.

Mrs Bowen and her husband, well-known local builder Gareth, took over the Lamb Inn at Finch Square in October 1988 and Mrs Bowen was one of the best-known and poplar licensees in the area.

As well as her husband she leaves her sons Jamie of Cardigan and Robbie of Florida to whom the sympathy of countless people over a wide area is extended.