Obituary from the November 1955 issue of the Socialist Standard
With much regret we have learned of the death from heart failure of Comrade C. T. West. He was 58.
He joined the Party in 1924, having been a conscientious objector in the 1914-1918 war, and imprisoned for a while in the Tower of London. At various times he was in the Clerkenwell, East London and Hackney Branches, and often spoke as chairman on the Victoria Park platform in the days when Alfred Jacobs was almost our resident speaker there. On at least one occasion, too, he came in conflict with Party rules.
A quiet, somewhat reticent man, West had considerable knowledge of Socialist theory, and was always ready to discuss Party matters beside his stall in a London market. One of his great wishes—it has been carried out—was to be buried m the Highgate Cemetery: the reason will be readily inferred.
We are sad at his passing, and offer our sympathy to his widow.
Phyllis Howard
1 comment:
Originally, this obituary was part of the Party News Briefs column but I think it deserved its own post.
According to SPGB party records Charles Thomas West had previously been a member of the CPGB and the National Unemployed Workers Movement (if not a CPGB front, heavily influenced by the CPGB).
The reference in the obituary to West coming into " conflict with Party rules . . . " is a reference to him being expelled from the SPGB for holding "unofficial meetings". (No further details.)
His Party membership details are incomplete but he did join Clerkenwell Branch of the SPGB in July 1924, rejoined the SPGB - via Stepney Branch - in November 1939, and rejoined the SPGB again in September 1942 via Hackney Branch.
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