TOUCHING tributes have been paid to the former chairwoman of the Wanstead Society who has died aged 61.

Anne Barlow died on Sunday, August 1, after a brief battle with cancer.

Miss Barlow was born in Bexleyheath and had lived in Wanstead for more than 20 years.

She took up the role as chairwoman of the community group about three years ago after joining the society as editor of the members' newsletter.

Geoff Horsnell, her partner, said: "Anne was much loved and one of a kind.

"She had lots and lots of friends and I kept a sort of diary of visitors in her last few weeks and it averaged at about six people a day."

Miss Barlow studied English and German at Southampton University as a student and went on to become a senior civil servant within the Department of Education.

Mr Horsnell, 59, said she spent some time as a personal assistant for former Labour deputy leader and cabinet minister Margaret Beckett.

Mr Horsnell, who lived with Miss Barlow in Gloucester Road, Wanstead, said: "Anne did not have strong political views but she was very aware ofthe role politics had to play in modern life."

During her time as chairwoman of the Wanstead Society, Miss Barlow was instrumental in helping get the first ever Wanstead Arts Trail underway.

Mr Horsnell, and long time friend Marian Temple, both spoke of Miss Barlow's enthusiasm for the event, so much so she was still asking about developments days before she died.

Mr Horsnell said: "She was also instrumental in joining forces with other local groups, for example the Counties Residents' Association.

"She would get together with Helen Zammett (chairwoman) and they would go through their respective itineraries and see if there was common ground that the groups could support each other on."

Mr Horsnell, an IT consultant, said it was Miss Barlow's wish for him to take her place on the society's committee.

The couple met almost 20 years ago as they were both members of the Cantamus Bach Choir and Miss Barlow handed Mr Horsnell the music for a concert in Epping.

He said: "I met her in the church just before the concert. They always talk about love at first site and that was it."

Mrs Temple, 61, said she first met Miss Barlow more than 20 years ago when they became neighbours.

She said: "Anne was highly intelligent, a delightful person, warm and welcoming, with a lovely sense of humour and she was very accepting of people.

"She was someone very special and she got a lot of enjoyment out of life."

Helen Zammett, of the Counties Residents' Association (CRA), said: "Anne was such a lovely person. "We worked together quite a bit and would often see each other out as she lived just down the road.

"Apart from her Wanstead Society work, she was such a lovely person, so cheerful, a quintessential English woman."

Mr Horsnell said Miss Barlow, who is survived by one brother and two nieces and nephews, became ill around Easter when she began suffeing from back pain.

After many tests the cause of the discomfort was diagnosed as bone cancer which had started in her lungs.

Mr Horsnell said: "It was treatable but not curable.

"She had radiotherapy which slowed it down but it was so aggresive. A month before Easter she was as busy as ever.

"It has hit quite hard as it was so sudden, just five months from onset to death."

Mr Horsnell said Miss Barlow died in his arms at Harts House Nursing Home in Woodford Green.

Miss Barlow's funeral will be held on Tuesday, August 10, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Wanstead, at 3.30pm.

There will be a celebration of Miss Barlow's life afterwards at the George pub in Wanstead.

Mr Horsnell said there would be a family cremation and he hoped to scatter Miss Barlow's ashes in Christchurch Green and get permission for a plaque or bench in the park in Miss Barlow's memory.