FAMILY and friends have paid tribute to Anne Young who travelled the world as a hotelier before settling down to run the Pear Tree in Purton for over 30 years.

Born in 1953, Anne grew up in Surrey and started her career at the Chester Grosvenor and the Savoy hotels in London before moving to Jordan to work as the head housekeeper for King Hussein in the royal palaces.

After Jordan she moved to Barbados with her fiancé Francis Young, before moving to America and working for JW Marriott in Baltimore and Boston.

The couple came back to the UK and in 1987 they bought the derelict Old Vicarage in Purton, transforming it into an award-wining 17-bedroom hotel, with a restaurant, gardens and later on, wild flower meadows and vineyards.

Anne’s daughter Alix said: “I was lucky enough to not only have Anne as my mum but to work and live alongside her for the past five years. This gave me the chance to see how great she really was in her professional world as well as her personal one.

“She so loved her grandson Charlie and was just the best grandmother to him, it’s such a shame she won’t have the chance to see him grow up. However she’s instilled an early love of flowers and gardening so we are sure her memory will live on.”

Sue Austin, who worked with Anne at the Pear Tree for more than nine years, said: “She was a hard tasker at work but if you ever needed anyone she would be your go-to person.

“She dealt with that brilliantly. If people had a crisis, it was Anne they went to. She was always there if you needed her. The majority of people stayed in touch when they left.

“She loved her wild flower meadow, that was really important to her. She knew every plant and every Latin name. She would walk into your garden and say ‘that shouldn’t be there you should move it.’

“She was very proud of working in Jordan, every year they sent a Christmas card to her. It took pride of place at the Pear Tree.

“She was very upbeat after her illness and just lived every moment and did everything she could.”

Those who knew Anne in business over the years also paid tribute to her.

Nick Arkell, director of Arkell's Brewery, said: “I first met Anne when she arrived in Purton to open the Pear Tree and we supplied them with beer and wine.

“Anne was always very welcoming when I called and we usually discussed the garden, Barbados, latterly the vineyard and her favourite drink, champagne. She will be sadly missed and it’s so cruel she cannot enjoy a deserved retirement.”

Anne took over full control of The Pear Tree in 2013 which, after making it into the Good Hotel Guide 25 times, had to close it doors in January 2018.

She was then diagnosed with a stage four brain tumour in April and died on September 24.

She is survived by her children Edward and Alix, as well her grandson Charlie, her brother Mark and her parents Charles and Beryl.