Tributes for loved Llangollen cafe owner

Aug 6 2008 By David Simister

TRIBUTES have been paid to the proprietor of a Llangollen cafe loved by the region’s bikers, who died last week after a brave battle against cancer.

Vilma Clemence shared ownership of the Ponderosa Cafe, on the Horseshoe Pass near the town, with husband John for over 24 years until her death last Thursday [July 31].

"The thing is with her is that she would talk to anybody. One minute she could be talking to a tramp begging in the street and the next minute she could be talking to the chief constable. She treated everybody the same" said son Mark.

"I think that's why she did so well in business because the public recognise someone who is a fake and who is genuine and she was the genuine article."

Bikers paid tribute to the 71-year-old by forming a convoy behind the funeral cortege as it made its way from Brymbo parish church to Bersham crematorium after the ceremony, held this Monday [August 4].

Clemence was born in and grew up in Brymbo, near Wrexham, then home to a thriving steel industry. After marrying husband John in 1954 she went on to become a well known trader in Denbighshire and Wrexham, running a gift shop on Charles Street in Wrexham’s town centre before she took over at the Ponderosa in 1984.

"She was always hugely interested in charity shops, and I think the shop we opened on Charles Street set a template for most of the charity shops we see on high streets today" said husband John.

"There weren’t any other charity shops around when we opened in 1972, and since we took over at the Ponderosa, we’ve seen the money we ploughed into it come back as the business has gone from strength to strength"

The Ponderosa, located on A542 north of Llangollen, has long been a favourite with bikers and cyclists and was recently featured on HTV’s television programme Great Cafes of Wales.