TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular and much-loved pub landlady in Dawlish who has died aged 43.

Emma Rabbage was liked and respected in the pub trade in the town, having worked in the former Prince of Wales pub and, for the last 22 years, at the Lansdowne in Park Road as manager.

Mum of two teenagers Emma died on August 7 following a diagnosis of cancer.

Partner Andy Barton told the Gazette: ‘I thought she would make it, we went on the journey together, I went to hospital with her.

‘She battled through chemo and was so strong.

‘She had a lovely life and everyone in Dawlish was fond of her, she was such a lovely person.

‘This has just knocked me and her family sideways.’

Emma came to manage the Park Road pub while it was going through a difficult time but she was able to turn its fortunes around.

Andy explained: ‘She really turned this place round. We were planning to open a new business on the Lawn and were renting it on a 10 year lease.

‘It was her dream to open it as a 20 seat cafe providing coffee, cakes, paninis and we were calling it Cool Beans on the Green.

‘She had such big plans and we had plans together.’

Ray Martin, who has run several pubs in Dawlish, knew and worked with Emma for many years.

He said: ‘It’s been a shock and we are all gobsmacked by it.

‘In some ways it has been a merciful release for her but it’s still a shock for us.’

He said Emma had worked at the Lansdowne since 2000 and had previously worked for him at the Prince of Wales before that.

Ray said: ‘I took over the Lansdowne in 2000 and we had worked together for a long time.

‘Emma always stepped right in with a welcome smile, her way with people just lit up the room.

‘She had a mix of charm, love and respect and left everyone who met her with a warm feeling.’

Friends paid their own tribute to Emma with a special pram in her memory at Tuesday’s Dawlish Carnival Pram Race.

A funeral service will take place on August 26 at 11.30am at Exeter Crematorium.