HE MAY have millions of fans around the world, but one of Bob Marley's British relatives is not too impressed with the reggae legend's music.

"It's all right. I wouldn't leave the room for it," said Carole Tovey of Devon in north England, in an interview with Britain's The Times newspaper .

Tovey, 66, was born Carole Marley in Ilfracombe, a village in Devon. She shares a great-great-grandfather with Bob whose father was Norval Marley, a former British soldier. Bob's British roots were traced by a researcher for the Hay Festival, an annual event held in Wales for 10 days in May and June.

Tovey said she was unaware of her link to Bob even though he had a massive British following. Recently, The Times visited her at her cottage and broke the news.

"It has always been a joke in the family. People would always say: 'Are you any relation to Bob Marley?' and I would say: 'Yes, he's my cousin'. We would laugh about it. Now, it turns out it is the gospel truth."

Not into reggae

Peter Roberts, Tovey's son, said she had little in common with her famous relative. She is fond of a cigarette but, unlike Bob, has never had a passion for ganja. Tovey is not into reggae.

"I've never heard his music before today. I used to like people like Neil Sedaka and the Everly Brothers. No reggae. No heavy metal," she said.

Tovey has never been to Jamaica.

According to The Times, Albert Thomas Marley, Tovey's great-great uncle, went to Jamaica in the late 19th century to make a living in the mahogany trade.

Albert Thomas settled in Jamaica and married Ellen Bloomfield, with whom he had a son, Norval. At the age of 50, Norval had an affair with 17-year-old Cedella Booker from Nine Miles, St Ann; that union produced Robert Nesta Marley who would later become one of the icons of the 20th century.