RUTHIN is in mourning after news broke that Cynthia Lennon has died.

John Lennon’s first wife, who was living in the Denbighshire town at the time of his death, passed away yesterday, Wednesday, after what her son Julian described as a “short but brave battle with cancer".

Cynthia lived in Ruthin in the late 70s early 80s and ran Oliver’s Bistro, now Manorhaus, in Well Street as well as owning a few rental cottages.

The couple’s only son Julian attended Ruthin School.

Mayor of Ruthin Cllr Stephen Beach, who was manager of The Castle Hotel at the time, said the town was mourning the loss of a “well-respected lady”.

He remembered his experience of the family fondly.

“Julian used to come in as a regular and we used to go and help out at Oliver’s sometimes,” he said.

“She had a lot of respect in Ruthin, she was a very nice lady.

“She was very down to earth and ran a very good business.

“This is very sad news.”

Mayor Beach also recalled the shock around the town when news of John Lennon’s murder broke on December 8, 1980.

“There were cameras everywhere, the place was filled with paparazzi.”

Gavin Harris, one of the current owners of Manorhaus, admitted he had never met Cynthia, who was married to John Twist at the time, but said the restaurant was still visited by Beatles fans.

“When her book came out there were a few pictures in it which we thought might’ve been taken here but we were never sure,” he said.

“There will no doubt be people in Ruthin remembering her today.”

The surviving Beatles also paid tribute to Cynthia after her family announced she had died aged 75 at her home in Spain with Julian at her bedside.

Born Cynthia Powell in Blackpool, she met Lennon at art school in Liverpool in 1957 and the couple married just before Beatlemania transformed her husband from a jobbing musician into one of the most famous men in the world.

At the height of The Beatles' early success, she was kept so far in the background that many of Lennon's female fans were not even aware of her existence, and she stayed at home bringing up Julian while the Fab Four toured the world and topped the charts.

The couple divorced in 1968 after Cynthia discovered her husband's relationship with Japanese artist Yoko Ono.

Lennon's second wife, and widow, Ono, said in a statement: "I'm very saddened by Cynthia's death.

“She was a great person and a wonderful mother to Julian.

"She had such a strong zest for life and I felt proud how we two women stood firm in the Beatles family.

“Please join me in sending love and support to Julian at this very sad time.

“Love, Yoko.”

Lennon's former bandmate, Sir Paul McCartney, said: "The news of Cynthia's passing is very sad.

“She was a lovely lady who I've known since our early days together in Liverpool.

"She was a good mother to Julian and will be missed by us all but I will always have great memories of our times together."

The Beatles' drummer, Ringo Starr, tweeted a message from him and his wife Barbara Bach, which read: "Peace and love to Julian Lennon, God bless Cynthia, love Ringo and Barbara xx.”

A message on Julian's website stated that he was with her when she died.

"Her son Julian Lennon was at her bedside throughout. the family are thankful for your prayers,” it read.

"Please respect their privacy at this difficult time.”

Julian also posted a film featuring photographs of his mother and tweeted a picture of her inside a heart with the message ‘In Loving Memory’.

Hunter Davies, who penned the only official biography of The Beatles in 1968, described Cynthia as "a lovely woman".

He said: "When I was writing the book I spent two years with them, visiting her home and spending time with her.

"She was totally different from John in that she was quiet and reserved and calm.

"She was not a hippy at all.

"I think it was the attraction of opposites between them.

“When they got together at art school everyone was amazed - she was seen as refined and reserved and nobody thought they would last.

"John treated her appallingly.

“He slept with Yoko in their marital home and, as we discovered later, he also physically attacked her, but she was loyal to him."

She remarried several times after her divorce and published memoirs of her time with Lennon.

In an interview to publicise one of her books, 2005's John, she told Good Morning America: "I have read so many books and seen so many films, and it's like we don't really exist.

“We are like walk-on parts in his life.

“We did spend 10 years together."

Recalling their early days, she said: "You couldn't resist being around him.

“You couldn't resist watching what he was up to.

“I mean, he was a total rebel.

“Everybody was amazed by him."