Charlie Siret

Charlie Siret

Charlie Siret, a lifelong socialist and former night shift shop steward at the Cowley car works, died at his home in Oxford Road, Farmoor, last week, surrounded by his family. He was 76.

Mr Siret, a keen gardener and avid reader of classical authors, joined the Cowley workforce 50 years ago after a spell in the Merchant Navy as a ship's cook.

His factory career included dye setting, slinging in the press shop, and working on overhead cranes.

A member of the Communist Party for many years and a keen supporter of CND, he declared in 1984: "The task I do doesn't bother me in the slightest. If I was asked to pick up a broom and sweep, I'd do it. Low, demeaning jobs have all got to be done."

He later became secretary of the TGWU retired members' regional committee and deputy chairman of the retired members' national executive.

In the 1950s he was one of the leaders of a vociferous campaign to abolish the tolls at the Swinford Bridge over the River Thames, between Farmoor and Eynsham.

A regular contributor to the letters pages of the Oxford Mail and its sister paper The Oxford Times on what he described as "an anachronism", he successfully fought for concessions for pensioners using the route.

In 1995, he prepared to face court proceedings after refusing to pay the 5p fee for a car driver, which had risen from 2p the previous year, but the case never came to court.

Mr Siret is survived by his wife Pat, sons James and Tim, and daughter Gemma.

A humanist funeral service is being held at Oxford Crematorium on November 8, at 2pm.