Marley relatives traced to Devon

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Bob Marley's cousin explains how she felt when she heard the news

The closest living British relatives of the world's most famous reggae artist have been traced to a small Devon town.

Carole Tovey, 66, of Ilfracombe, was born Carole Marley but was not aware of her link to her famous relative until recently.

Now Mrs Tovey has discovered the legendary musician was her cousin.

The connection to Ilfracombe was made by a Hay Festival researcher ahead of a talk to be given by Marley's record producer and mentor, Chris Blackwell.

Mrs Tovey has taken the news in her stride but her children have responded with more enthusiasm.

Wendy Wells, Mrs Tovey's daughter and Marley's second cousin, said: "We all find it fascinating if not comical - it's quite quirky.

"My grandma mentioned [the family connection] when we were little but we didn't pursue it."

Marley's father's family came from Ilfracombe in Devon

Mrs Tovey's son, Peter Roberts, added: "I'm looking to go on holiday in September, I'm trying to talk my wife into going to Jamaica."

Mrs Wells' great-great uncle, Albert Thomas Marley, who was of white British descent, settled in Jamaica in the late 19th Century.

He married Ellen Bloomfield and had a son, Norval, who grew up to be a soldier in the British Army.

Bob Marley - born Robert Nesta Marley - was the son of Norval Marley and Cedella Booker, a black woman of African ancestry.

He died of a cancerous brain tumour in a Miami hospital on 11 May 1981, aged 36.

Steve Morrison who runs Legend, a Bob Marley tribute band, said: "[The local connection] does make sense because he has both sides of two different cultures.

"This is one side that we don't hear about and to know that there is this other side [of the family] in Britain is very interesting."