By Pamela McGowan

Last updated 19:46, Friday, 25 April 2008

LONGSTANDING Carlisle councillor June Martlew died in hospital earlier today.

• View more pictures...

Tributes: June Martlew

Only last week the 72-year-old was out canvassing for the Labour party ahead of the local elections, before falling ill with a chest infection.

She was taken in to the Cumberland Infirmary last Thursday and passed away early this morning.

Miss Martlew – sister of Carlisle MP Eric Martlew – joined the city council in 1998 and represented the Upperby ward for 10 years.

One of her biggest achievements as a councillor was helping the community establish the Sure Start children’s centre at Petteril Bank School.

Prior to that she worked as an international diplomat, a role which took her all over the world, working in countries such a Sierra Leone in Africa.

It was her commitment to this diplomatic work that saw her awarded the MBE.

On retiring, she moved back to Carlisle where she and her six brothers and sisters were brought up after the family moved to the city in 1951.

It was following her retirement that Miss Martlew first became involved in local politics, standing for election in Upperby 10 years ago.

She had also been a leading member of the planning committee for many years.

Labour group leader Michael Boaden today paid tribute to Miss Martlew, who he described as a stalwart of the local community, the party and the council as a whole.

He said: “She played a very full part in the life of the Upperby community.

“She lived slightly across the border in Harraby but was very active in all kinds of community organisations and groups, and was a very active church person.

“As well as her distinguished record as a brilliant ward councillor she was also a very popular and hardworking member of the wider council.

“I’ve had a number of messages from members of other political parties which reflect the fact that although she was committed politically, she didn’t let it interfere with the way she dealt with people on a personal basis. She offered so much in terms of intelligence and experience. She is going to be a terrible loss.

“I will personally miss her a great deal.

“She was a stalwart – one of those people who was always there to help and advise you and was very committed to doing the right thing.”

Right up until her death Miss Martlew had been busy helping her party with its election campaign, even though her own seat wasn’t due to be contested in this year’s elections.

She had also been heavily involved in the recent meetings over the future expansion of Carlisle airport, a matter which was being discussed again by councillors this morning.

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

He said: “It’s all happened very quickly. She was only taken into hospital last week.

“I just want to thank all of the staff who have cared for her at the Cumberland Infirmary.

“They have been absolutely wonderful.”