Phil Cowan, who volunteered for groups including the Primrose Hill Community Association (PHCA) and homeless charity Camden Streets Kitchen, died on March 23 aged 57.
There will be a celebration of his life at the Primrose Hill Community Centre, in Hopkinsons Place, this Saturday (June 14) at 7.30pm.
Writing on the Primrose Hill publication On The Hill, its editor Maggie Chambers said: “Once unofficially dubbed ‘The Mayor of Primrose Hill’, an accolade to which Phil said he felt ‘completely unqualified, having no medal of courage, diploma of thinking nor even a decent clock that ticked’, many of us will feel we have indeed lost our ‘Mayor’.
“There was no one quite like Phil to defend the values of our community, and he will be greatly missed.”
Mr Cowan grew up in Edinburgh with his two sisters before moving to London aged 18 to study acting.
He moved on to start a business selling antique furniture in Camden Market, and later the shop Boom in Chalk Farm Road.
After the shop closed, he became passionate about civic issues and volunteering, and joined Streets Kitchen – whose motto is ‘Give a Shift’ – serving coffee and hot chocolate to the homeless in Camden Town.
A dog lover and owner of pooches Rex and Tinkerbell, Phil campaigned for Lucy’s Law in 2018, to limit puppy farming, as well as supporting the charity All Dogs Matter.
He was key in getting the The Albert pub in Princess Road reopened in 2020, six years after it closed, and was praised by journalist Andrew Marr, who cut the ribbon.
A staunch opponent of HS2 and vehicle pollution, he also stood as an independent candidate for Primrose Hill in 2022.
A fundraising campaign in his memory has been set up by his friend Simon Happily, with proceeds going to Camden Streets Kitchen, PHCA and All Dogs Matter.
Simon said: “There is a huge hole in my life where Phil had been − I know I’m not the only one suffering the emptiness from his absence.
“People in the area speak to me most days about how much they miss him, and often mention ‘the community’.
“As well as those of us who miss Phil personally, I know the community will suffer without his love, care, compassion and desire to make things better. I’m so lucky to have known him, but wish we’d had the chance to have more laughs in the sun together.”
PHCA chief executive Mick Hudspeth said: “Phil was a friend to all in the community; he was always the first to volunteer his services for community association events, and always keen to help others in the area.
“He was relentless in his work around homelessness, and was devoted to Streets Kitchen, where his warmth and humanity shone through. He was always friendly and upbeat and truly cared about Primrose Hill, the area he lived in and loved.”
Lucy Cottrill, who worked with Phil, said: “Phil was a great listener who picked up every nuance and was very fair-minded – he always said he liked ‘to put himself in the other person’s boots’. He had a very balanced view on issues and could tell you what the community thought in a dispassionate way.”
To donate visit: https://www.givewheel.com/fundraising/7783/PrimrosePhil/
