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One of Wales’ most famous pub landladies has died
Tributes have been paid to a “one-of-a-kind” landlady who has died at the age of 93. Bessie Davies, who worked in and then owned the Dyffryn Arms pub in the Gwaun Valley in Pembrokeshire[1] for 73 years, died peacefully on Saturday, December 16. With no wifi, no television, and very little phone signal, no-nonsense Bessie was extremely proud that her pub in her rural corner of Wales forced punters to talk to each other.
The locals are among the only people left in the country to celebrate new year according to the old Julian calendar which means it’s on January 13. Walking into her pub is like walking into a living room 50 years ago, as reported during our own visit to Gwaun Valley last year. Mismatching sets of chairs are scattered around worn tables and there’s a woodburner in the stone fireplace. A beaten-up plastic bucket acts as an ash collector while notes of currency from all over the world are plastered on one of the walls.
You can read a full tribute to Bessie and her unique pub here.[2][3]
References
- ^ Pembrokeshire (www.walesonline.co.uk)
- ^ as reported during our own visit to Gwaun Valley last year. (www.walesonline.co.uk)
- ^ here. (www.walesonline.co.uk)