HUNDREDS of mourners turned out to pay their final respects to the popular landlady of a Worcestershire pub.

Family, friends and colleagues attended Pembrey Parish Church in south Wales yesterday for the funeral of Sian Thomas.

The 38-year-old, who managed the Berkeley Arms pub, Spetchley, died on June 8 – two days after she slipped and fell on a night out.

Colleagues and friends from the pub travelled by coach to the funeral and family members reserved an entire side of the church to make sure they were included in the service.

The congregation heard how despite being a quiet child growing up, Miss Thomas developed into a bubbly and sociable woman who was always surrounded by lots of friends. Her cousin, Sandra McDonald, described a holiday to Portugal together where constant rain threatened to spoil their fun.

“We had no choice but to socialise,” she said. “But Sian soon had everyone in roars of laughter with her impressions of Ness from Gavin and Stacey.

“By the end of the holiday she knew everyone by name – even if it was Bryn or Dave – and they were talking back to her in a Welsh accent. It was the best weekend ever.”

Friends and family were also told that colleagues struggled to understand Miss Thomas’s strong Welsh accent when she first moved to Worcester and that they would simply nod and smile while she chatted.

But strong bonds were soon formed and friends laughed at tales of Miss Thomas’s love of Doris Day and her frequent shopping trips.

It was said that she would return from the shops describing her new purchases as bargains and that she was always willing to lend her extensive collection of dresses, shoes and jewellery to friends.

“With her shoes and clothes she could have lived to 150 and still never have worn them all,” one friend added.

The congregation stood still while Neil Diamond’s Hello Again was played and Miss Thomas’s sister Janice explained that the song was chosen because she always stayed in touch with friends and family at home in Pembrey. Special thanks were paid to Miss Thomas’s mother, Alice, for bringing a star into the world, as well as her boyfriend Rob McCairn, who brought Sian so much happiness.