Yoko Ono hails Cynthia as 'great person and wonderful mother' after news of death

London: Cynthia Lennon, first wife of the Beatles' John Lennon, has died at her home in Mallorca, Spain after a "short but brave" battle with cancer. She was 75. Her and Lennon's son Julian, also a singer and songwriter, paid a tribute to his mother on his website.

"Cynthia Lennon passed away today at her home in Mallorca, Spain following a short but brave battle with cancer. Her son Julian Lennon was at her bedside throughout. The family are thankful for your prayers. Please respect their privacy at this difficult time," read the message.

Cynthia met Lennon at the Liverpool College of Art in the late 1950s and the two began dating. In 1962 she was pregnant with their first child and the couple tied the knot later that year in August while the band was still making its way to the top of radio charts.

When Beatles became famous, she was kept in background so that the news of their marriage wouldn't upset the band's young female fans. Eventually, the news of their union was later made public.

The couple divorced a few years later, in 1968 after Cynthia discovered her husband's affair with Japanese artist Yoko Ono. Cynthia wrote two memoirs about her time with Lennon. She later went on to marry three more times.

Paying tribute to Cynthia, former Beatle 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."

Yoko Ono hailed Cynthia as a "great person and wonderful mother". "I felt proud how we two women stood firm in The Beatles family."

"Peace and love to Julian Lennon God bless Cynthia love Ringo and Barbara xx," tweeted Ringo Starr.