A POPULAR Weston businesswoman, who was ‘the rock’ of her family, died on New Year’s Eve.

Gill Dudd, of Spring Hill, previously owned a number of hotels and public houses with her husband Ken throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

These ranged from the former Elron Hotel in Walliscote Road, Weston, Purn Farm in Bleadon, The London Inn, Weston, and most recently Weston’s Captain’s Cabin.

Gill’s sister Jane Smith, said: “She was the rock of our family and was the one we all talked to when anything went wrong.

“Gill was a successful businesswoman and was a strong-willed person who struggled with her health all through her life.

“She would drop everything to help you in any way she could.

“Family was everything to her and she will be missed by many.”

Gill moved to Weston from Wales when she was 14 years old and attended Weston Grammar School.

She met her husband Ken in Weston and the pair married in 1964.

Shortly after Gill opened two hairdressing shops in Weston – called Gillian’s – and later opened another in Milton.

She died aged 74 after dealing with ill health for some time. She is survived by her sons Gregory and Jonathan, sisters Jane and Judy and her five grandchildren, Curtis, Marcus, Francesca, Jevan and Talan.

The family will hold Gill’s funeral on Wednesday at The Crematorium, in Ebdon Road, Worle, at 3pm.