THE cousin of a popular landlady who died after a fall during a night out has paid a moving tribute to her.

Sian Thomas, manager of the Berkeley Arms, Spetchley, near Worcester, was due to be going on a girl’s holiday with Sandra McDonald the day before she died.

Mrs McDonald said her cousin was “always happy and always smiling” and was a great source of support when her late mother became ill last year.

She said: “Sian was the sort of person who lit up the room when she walked in.

“She was very pleasant, very genuine and probably the most thoughtful person I’ve ever met.

“She was brilliant at making people feel at ease and always cracking jokes. She’s just going to be an angel – she was a beautiful girl in every way.”

Miss Thomas had worked in the hospitality industry since leaving school and had trained as a chef.

She took on the role as manager of the Berkeley Arms almost three years ago and also lived at the country pub.

Mrs McDonald said many people admired Miss Thomas because she had “made something of herself”.

She said: “There wasn’t an awful lot where she grew up and at a very early age she flew the nest.

“She left her comfort zone and made something of herself. She was very committed to what she did.”

Miss Thomas, who grew up in South Wales, is survived by her mother Alice, sisters Janice and Julie, and brother Alan. She was also close to her nieces Katie, Kelly and Carrie.

Miss Thomas was on a night out in Worcester when she slipped, fell and bruised her knee.

The following day the 38-year-old posted on her Facebook page that she was “in agony” and could not walk.

On Wednesday last week, two days after the fall, Miss Thomas was at the Worcester home of her partner Rob McCairn when she was suddenly taken ill.

She developed an embolism and later died.

Miss Thomas’ funeral will take place at Pembrey parish church, near Llanelli, South Wales, on Thursday, June 23, at 1pm.