LIFELONG Labour supporter and former Mayor Harry Garrett has died at the age of 90, a month after he and his wife Ellen celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary.

Mr Garrett became Mayor of Thamesdown the administrative name given to Swindon in 1974 during local government reorganisation after 10 years as a Labour member of the borough council.

He had previously served on the old Highworth Rural District Council and he and his wife were both members of Wroughton Parish Council for more than 30 years.

He helped to set up Wroughton Labour branch and was also a former chairman of Devizes Constituency Labour Party.

Another former Mayor of the borough, Reg Clarke, said: "Harry Garrett was an extremely good councillor and a well-respected, well-loved figure. He frequently put the needs of this community before his own needs."

The medallion and blue ribbon presented to him when his mayoral year ended will be carried on a cushion placed on the coffin at his funeral.

Mr Garrett, who became a transport supervisor with haulage firm British Road Services, met his wife when she was a housemaid working at Berwick Bassett Manor and he lived next door. They married a year later.

She joined the Labour Party in 1947, 10 years after her husband, and had worked beside him in politics ever since.

A sheltered housing complex at Wroughton is named after him.

The funeral will take place at Wroughton parish church tomorrow at 1.30pm.

Mr Garrett also leaves two daughters, three sons, nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.