Bournemouth hotelier loses five-year battle with cancer

Jennie Deavin, one of Bournemouth's longest serving hoteliers, has died at the age of 68 following a five-year battle with cancer.

She had been the owner of the three-AA-star, 87-bedroom Marsham Court hotel for 30 years.

Having entered the hospitality industry in 1967 when she went to work at her parents' Bonninghton hotel, Deavin went on to purchase the property five years later.

She then went on to acquire the West Cliff Hall hotel (now the Bourne Hall hotel) and the Pavilion Hotel (now the Ramada Encore), which her family still own.

In 1987, Deavin bought the Marsham Court hotel. Two years ago she was made an honorary lifetime member of the Bournemouth Hotel and Accommodation Association and at the 2016 Bournemouth Tourism Awards she and her daughter Rose Wallace were presented with the Large Hotel of the Year award for Marsham Court

Wallace said: "Mum fought a long battle with cancer, but not once did she lose her passion for the hotel business or her unshakeable sense of humour.

"Everyone who knew her loved her. She died surrounded by her family, content in the knowledge that she had not only created her own thriving business, but that she had also played a part in shaping the success of the local hospitality industry."

Deavin's funeral will be held at 10am on 24 April at St Peter's Church, Hinton Road, Bournemouth. Her family has requested that no black is worn.

She leaves behind three children: Rosie Wallace, Russell Dixon-Box and James Dixon-Box. Her second husband Hugh Deavin died in June 2014.

Image: Jennie Deavin with her children Rosie Wallace, James Dixon-Box and Russell Dixon-Box

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