Cllr Stephen Cowan, Leader of Hammersmith & Fulham, writes:
I am very sad to report that Charlie Treloggan, the former Labour councillor and Mayor, died at 12.30am on Saturday 20 July 2024. Born in Fulham on the 23 September 1924, Charlie was just two months shy of his 100th birthday.
The flags are flying at half-mast over our town hall as a mark of the borough's respect for a man who gave so much to Hammersmith & Fulham and to our country.
Charlie Treloggan was held in huge respect and affection. His friendly, straightforward and self-effacing demeanour disguising his ability to quickly weigh situations and people up. It also clouded any insight into the man who had bravely spent years of active service in the Royal Navy throughout much of the Second World War.
Charlie had volunteered as soon as he was old enough. By 1942 he was serving on the battleship HMS Rodney, initially in Scapa Flow, before the Rodney was sent to the Mediterranean to support the Allied landings in North Africa and then on to protect the convoys relieving Malta. Charlie was rapidly promoted to Petty Officer, Gunnery.
By 1944, Charlie was serving on HMS Victorious seeing action again when the aircraft carrier attacked and helped eliminate the Tirpitz – a Bismarck-class battleship in Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine which had been harrying Allied Arctic convoys.
When the Nazi naval threat in the north Atlantic was finally removed, HMS Victorious was redeployed to the Pacific seeing Charlie’s ship join the US 3rd and 5th Fleets in 1945 to engage the Empire of Japan.
On 2 September 1945, when the Second World War ended, Charlie was in the Allied flotilla in Tokyo Bay for the signing of the Japanese surrender on board the USS Missouri.
He was later assigned to help with the repatriation of Allied prisoners of war held by the Japanese in Nagasaki and Hong Kong. The emaciated state of Allied PoWs left a profound and upsetting impression on him. He was demobilised in 1947.
As with so many of that brave generation, Charlie really disliked any reference to heroism always explaining he just did his duty - he did what needed to be done.
I often think of Charlie’s matter-of-fact explanations of the role he played in such defining historical events. He was always so very much in the present, sometimes making it hard for those of us that were his friends to reconcile how he could also have been there when the grainy black and white Pathé newsreels reported from a long ago and very different past.
Returning home to post war Britain, Charlie married Rose Davenport. They settled back into life in Fulham and Rose gave birth to their daughter Margaret.
I met Charlie almost thirty years ago. By then he had ‘done the knowledge’ and become a Black Cab driver.
He was elected to represent Gibbs Green ward in a by-election on 10 July 1997.
Charlie quickly became a diligent and dutiful elected representative gaining an expertise in social and affordable housing and taking on important roles in the council housing brief. He served on the Board of Shepherds Bush Housing Association and was involved with several charities including Bishop Creighton House and the Mayor's Charity.
He was a hardworking and clever member of the planning committee but most of all, he was someone who fought his constituents’ corner - always passionate about righting wrongs and doing the right thing.
Andy Slaughter MP served with Charlie on Hammersmith & Fulham Council. He told how:
“Charlie was my co-councillor in West Ken for eight years, a charismatic Mayor and a dedicated community champion. But above all he was my very good friend for almost 40 years, sharing good times and bad and always with great cheer and sound advice. He was a hero in West Ken, a popular leader of the borough and had boundless reserves of energy. He had a strong moral compass, always did the right thing and stood up fearlessly for the underdog. I can’t be sad because he led a long and full life and achieved so much.”
After the local elections in 2002, Charlie was elected Deputy Mayor of the Borough. In 2003, he became the Mayor - a position he held until 2006. Charlie was an excellent first citizen of Hammersmith & Fulham. School children particularly loved to meet him and hear his stories. His awareness of the importance of this ceremonial role and his dutiful approach to it drew huge respect from all, leading the City of London to make him a Freeman of the City.
While Mayor, Charlie would still work the odd day as a Black Cab driver, explaining that he had to keep his hand in – he loved the life of a cabbie. He could be seen arriving at the Town Hall in his cab in the morning only to be driven out an hour or so later in the Mayoral Daimler by Keith, the official driver.
Charlie held his position as a member of Hammersmith & Fulham council until the 4 May 2006 when he lost his seat.
He had loved being on the planning committee. Often, on planning nights, he would pop into to the Salutation Pub after the committee had finished to hear how things had played out and joke with Councillors Michael Cartwright, Colin Aherne and Wesley Harcourt.
By 2007 Charlie was back in the fight. He had become an active member of the campaign team striving to save the West Kensington and Gibbs Green estates from demolition. Charlie lived in a council flat on the West Kensington estate. He was horrified to learn the plan wasn’t just to get rid of the council homes but there was no plan to replace them.
He worked for almost a decade to save his and his neighbour’s homes. His friend and fellow campaigner, Sally Taylor refers to Charlie in this Daily Mirror article from November 2019, explaining how his diligent book keeping played a crucial role in thwarting those intent on closing down the residents’ association that was battling to stop the demolition.
Since elected to represent the same district Charlie had done, Cllr Sally Taylor points out how:
“Charlie Treloggan was absolutely loved. He was gentle with a dry sense of humour. He was a wonderful man who helped so many people.”
Charlie’s family describe his passing as “gentle and peaceful”. They offered particular thanks for the “wonderful” care he received at Nazareth House.
Charlie had been the eldest of nine children to his parents Lillian and William Treloggan. His sister Pat and brother John both survive him. As does his daughter Margaret and his wider family.
Charlie Treloggan stood out, not only for his sheer decency, but for how he applied his deeply held principles of duty and care for others to every aspect of his life.
He leaves behind a large family who, like all of us, are deeply proud of him for a life well lived, making the world a better place and for being a remarkably good human being.
