Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A popular landlord who managed several pubs across Plymouth has sadly died at his pub in Cornwall. Lee Swann was battling lung cancer when he passed away at The Market Inn in St Cleer on March 25. The 56-year-old dad-of-three was a familiar face behind the bar of Plymouth pubs the Crown and Column, Queen and Constitution, Shakespeare, Bristol Castle, Half Moon Inn, and the Millers Inn in Somerset. Most recently, Lee was running the Market Inn in St Cleer, where he died, and The Ford Inn on Alexandra Road in Plymouth, with his wife April. April said: "He was the absolute light of my life. My soulmate. We are quite passionate about pubs, so we normally look after pubs that are going to close down or are closed whilst waiting for suitable tenants." She explained on the day her husband passed away, they were due to hand the keys back to a pub they had in Wincanton and she was unable to reach him by phone. April said after looking at her pub cameras, she realised something was wrong and alerted the ambulance service. As she was travelling back to St Cleer on the A303, she rang police to ask for an escort. She was then instructed to go to Taunton Services where a police car would take her and her son home. April has praised the service of Avon and Somerset Police, as well as Enterprise in Plympton, who picked her vehicle up from Taunton and delivered her belongings back to St Cleer. "They have been amazing and I can't thank them enough," she said. April said she met Lee at school and they started dating in 2007, before getting engaged at a surprise birthday party in April 2009. She said: "Lee was a lovely man, thoughtful and kind. He suffered his own issues with his mental health but we got through that with the help of the team at Avon House. "He was then able to manage it, good days and bad days and was open about it with everyone so people knew when he was struggling and because Lee was open about his struggles he helped others open up too. "Lee would light up a room. He had such an infectious smile, a calming nature, generous and kind. He will be missed by everyone that knew him. Lee was a military baby and born to Eddie and Sue Swann in Singapore. He leaves behind two sisters, Shelly and Nichola and his children, Shane, Jack and Ellie, Daniel, Matthew, Luke, Ben and Ellie-Mae. He was also a "wonderful granddad" to Leland, Lucas, Joseph, Joshua and Tilly. In a funeral notice placed into the Herald, Lee's family said: "My Darling Lee you were so cruelly taken from us, so suddenly on the 25th March 2025 aged 56. You were the most loving, caring husband. Loving son of Sue, brother to Shelly and Nichola and dad of Shane, Jack Ellie, Daniel, Matthew, Luke, Ben and Ellie-Mae. A loving grandad to your grandchildren Leland, Joshua, Tilly, Joseph and Lucas and your beloved pup Teddy. "You will be missed beyond words, until we meet again. Love you, forever in our hearts. Funeral service on Wednesday the 16th April at The Park Crematorium Plymouth in chapel one at 2pm. "Family flowers, donations in memory of Lee are for the Mustard Tree Cancer Support Centre and may be given online or after the funeral service. Enquiries to Wyatt Brothers, 5-7 Durnford Street, Plymouth, PL1 3QJ." A fundraiser has been launched to help make Lee's funeral "special and the one he deserved". So far, £2,715 has been raised out of a £3,000 target.