A FAMILY has paid tribute to a Cumbrian landlady who spent some of her life travelling around the world on the music circuit. 

Liverpool-born Marie Black (nee Santamera) died of leukemia aged 84 on Thursday, August 3.

She ran The Cross Keys Pub in Milnthorpe, The Hole in the Wall in Bowness, and later ran a bed and breakfast at Ferry View with her husband.

She moved to the Lakes when she was evacuated during World War Two.

Marie attended Patterdale School and Penrith Grammar School - and was the Patterdale May Queen in 1953.

The Westmorland Gazette: Marie was the Patterdale May Queen in 1953Marie was the Patterdale May Queen in 1953 (Image: Submitted)

 

After completing her shorthand and typing qualifying she worked as a medical secretary at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Carlisle. She moved to Glenridding in the 1950s. Tragically her father died in a mining accident in Greenside Mine. She met Harry Black in the Lakes, who was also from Liverpool.

After they married in 1960 the pair embarked on a lifetime of adventure. Harry was an accomplished banjo musician. He played at Your Father's Mustache in New York and across the world.

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Marie's daughter Heidi Santamera-Black, 61, said: "It took some guts - my mum got a lot of stick for it with people asking her 'why are you not staying at home.' My mum said she had the best life and the best husband."

The Westmorland Gazette: Harry and Marie shortly after they married Harry and Marie shortly after they married (Image: Submitted)

The family came back to England in 1976 and got into the pub trade. Their first pub was the Cross Keys in Milnthorpe and then they moved to the Hole in the Wall in Bowness. Finally, they bought the cottage in Bowness to run the bed and breakfast.

Heidi said: "We had people coming all over. It was a really happy time. My mother was behind the bar and she was always socialising with people. 

"They were very much a team."

The Westmorland Gazette: Marie lived with her daughter and grandson until she passed away Marie lived with her daughter and grandson until she passed away (Image: Submitted)

After her husband died in 2014 Marie became more involved with fundraising for her local church.

Marie never had health issues before but she contracted leukemia and had to start chemotherapy in her 80s. Heidi and Marie's grandson Adam, 29, lived with her during the last part of her life and they realised just how strong and resilient she was. 

Adam said: "She battled incredibly hard, she was the most loving and caring person."