Tributes pour in for 'community champion' June

By Pamela McGowan and Julian Whittle

Last updated at 09:58, Saturday, 26 April 2008

Politicians and community workers have paid tribute to Carlisle councillor June Martlew, who died suddenly yesterday.

Leave a tribute: to June Martlew

Diligent: Councillor June Martlew was a successful diplomat

They described the 72-year-old former diplomat – sister of Carlisle MP Eric Martlew – as a special woman who would be sadly missed.

She had represented the Upperby ward on the city council for 10 years, during which time she was involved with numerous local groups and committees and had been chair of governors at Petteril Bank Community School for many years.

Miss Martlew was one of the driving forces behind a successful project linking the school to a new community building, children’s centre and nursery.

Headteacher Lucy McCullough said she will be sadly missed: “June has been a well-known figure at our school for years and has offered us lots of support in all matters of school life, particularly with building the extended school. She was an integral part of all that.

“She has always been an advocate for this community, working hard to provide as many opportunities as she could for everyone.

“She was a very special lady, very supportive and will be sadly missed.”

Lynda Hassell, programme manager for Sure Start in Carlisle South, added that Miss Martlew was instrumental in getting the children’s centre off the ground.

“She has been a huge, huge champion for us.

“She was very humble yet full of energy with an endearing and committed spirit. Her death has come as a real shock to us all.”

Miss Martlew died at the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, after being admitted last Thursday with a serious chest infection.

She joined the council after returning to Carlisle a decade ago. She had travelled across the world, working as a foreign diplomat in Africa and South America. It was this role that saw her being awarded the MBE.

She dedicated her later years to local politics, working closely with fellow Labour and Upperby representive Stewart Young, a county councillor.

He said: “It was a privilege to know June.

“She would often entertain us with stories of her travels and adventures.

“I will miss her greatly, as a colleague and a friend.”

Yesterday fellow city councillors also paid their own tributes to Miss Martlew.

Leader Mike Mitchelson said: “June was a genuinely nice lady with no malice. She had a wealth of experience. She was a credit to the council and worked hard for Carlisle. She will be missed.”

Her brother Eric Martlew said all of the family were at her bedside in the intensive care unit when she passed away yesterday morning.

“It’s all happened very quickly, she was only taken into hospital last week, but I just want to thank all of the staff who have cared for her at the Cumberland Infirmary. They have been absolutely wonderful,” he said.