A POPULAR Dursley event has been dedicated to a young councillor who died last month. 

Anja Rowston died aged 33 on Thursday, June 23 - just five months after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Dursley After Hours, which takes place under the town's iconic marketplace, was helped set up by Anja and her friends and colleagues Danae Savvidou, Doina Cornell and Wendy Thomas.

Supported with a grant from Dursley Town Council the free music event encourages people to buy food from local eateries and supporting local businesses to sit back and enjoy a summer evening. 

Dursley After Hours chair Danae Savvidou said: “It's been lovely to see people from all ages and all walks of life come together under the marketplace, having a lovely time.  

“We have children running around, young couples sitting on the grass and older people sitting with their friends.

“At next week’s event we would like to pay tribute to our friend and founding member of Dursley After Hours Anja Rowston.”

Anja was elected as a Labour town councillor in May of last year and was passionate about helping her community - she organised the free music event and was helping to organise the first Dursley Pride which is happening next month. 

She was also an avid seamstress who made many of her own clothes and helped to create masks and visors for local NHS workers at the start of the pandemic.

Her housemate, Jen Hoskins, who met Anja in primary school said: “Throughout her life Anja has been the most selfless and giving person.”

“If there was anything she could do to help her community, she'd do it without hesitation. 

“I know she would have been really touched to find out just how many people's lives she had a positive impact on.”

Her funeral will be held at Gloucester Crematorium on Thursday, July 14 at 1.30pm, followed by a gathering at The Chantry Centre at 3pm for her family, friends, and colleagues. Colourful attire is encouraged.

Any money collected for Anja will go to the Oncology Unit at Cheltenham General Hospital. 

Pigs Might Fly, a local folk band, will perform at the Dursley After Hours on Friday, July 15.