A devastated husband has paid tribute to his “remarkable” wife and her sister who both died within weeks of each other.

Olga Spiers died at her home in Marlow on April 15 this year after fighting cancer for 14 years – just eight weeks after her sister, Sandra Bowers, also sadly passed away after suffering from leukaemia.

Olga’s husband Peter paid homage to his wife, saying she was a “remarkable and special lady, loved and held in high esteem by so many”.

The mother and grandmother suffered from breast cancer, having seven operations in the 14 years she lived with the condition, and was treated for vasculitis, from which she nearly died in 2013, with Peter saying despite the problems she lived a “mostly normal” life until three months before she died, “showing amazing courage fortitude and dignity”.

He said: “Olga lived with cancer for almost 14 years, had numerous operations and procedures, chemotherapy and much more. 

“She was always a model patient charming the consultants and nurses with her positivity and bravery.  

“She has done all this with amazing courage, fortitude and grace, determined to live a normal life which she did for nearly all this time.

“She never complained or had the ‘why me’ self-pity, but faced everything head on with a marvellous positive attitude and cheerfulness and of course her wonderful smile.”

Both sisters were originally from the island of St Helena with Olga, 72, the oldest of five sisters, and Sandra, 61, the youngest. Olga moved to England, fulfilling a “lifelong ambition”, in 1963, working in Nettlebed and then the Smith Hospital for autistic children in Henley, before marrying Peter in 1968 and moving to Marlow.

Sandra and her husband Eddie came to England in 1999, initially living and working in Windsor and moving to Marlow around 14 years ago.

Sandra worked for Telegenic in High Wycombe where Peter said she was “extremely popular”.

Speaking about his wife, Peter said: “Olga made our marriage special, she taught me so much about life, living and love and was so much more than an equal partner. 

“I have been incredibly lucky to have shared her life for more than 50 years – such a privilege and honour.”

She leaves behind her three sons - Richard, Rupert and Philip - and five grandchildren, while Sandra leaves behind Eddie and son Andrew.