A LOCAL councillor and former Mayor of Harrow has died aged 65, less than a week after her 41st wedding anniversary.

Councillor Janet Cowan, who represented Canons ward and was Mayor for 2006/07, died from heart failure at her home in Handel Close, Edgware, on Saturday.

Married to fellow Conservative, Councillor John Cowan in 1966, Mrs Cowan was elected to Harrow Council in 1990 and represented several wards in the borough.

Speaking to the Harrow Times this week, Mr Cowan said: "I could not have had a better wife.

"I do not know what I will do without her; we were a pair. It is part of life.

"She had a knee operation in August and a few problems after that.

"She had an operation and everything was fine.

"On Saturday I brought her a cup of tea in bed and she said I feel tired'.

"She went to have a little rest. I went up there and she accused me of waking her up. She said put the kettle on'.

"I went back up and she was dead. I knew she was dead, but I called a doctor who lived nearby."

Mrs Cowan had lived in the borough for 35 years, serving as mayoress to her husband for 1994/95.

She was a member of a several council education committees and the governing bodies of a number of local schools.

She was also actively involved with several residents' associations, including the Canons Park Estate Association and the Canons Park Residents' Association.

Chris Mote, leader of the council, said: "Janet was an upstanding member of the local community for more than 30 years and diligently represented a number of wards, including Canons, for 16 years.

"She was a great stalwart and will be a great loss to the council and Harrow. She will be sorely missed by all.

"For me personally this will be a tragic loss of a friend and colleague."

Councillor Jean Lammiman, the current Mayor of Harrow, said: "Janet was not only an excellent councillor but she was also my very good friend.

"My heart goes out to John, Richard and Martin and their families.

"John and I will miss her very much."

Her funeral takes place at 3pm today, at Bushey Jewish Cemetery, in Little Bushey Lane.

There will also be prayers for Mrs Cowan tomorrow, on Thursday and on Sunday, as part of the Jewish mourning ritual Shiva, at the home of the Cowan's son Richard, in Peters Close, Stanmore.

Anyone who wishes to attend can contact Mr Cowan on 07971 859 161.

She is survived by her husband, their children, Richard and Martin, and grandchildren.

A by election for Mrs Cowan's seat is likely to be called within a month.