A former national union leader has died, following a fall at his Larkfield home.

Charles Lovell was the General Secretary of the Plumbers Trades Union from 1966, and after its merger with electricians’ union in 1968 to form the EETPU, he became National Secretary of the combined union, a post he held until his retirement in 1987.

Throughout his career, he never found it necessary to call a strike, managing instead to achieve improvements for his members using his charm and intelligent argument.

Mr Lovell was born into a working-class family in the North East in 1923.

A firm believer in self-advancement, he was largely self-educated, studying with the Workers Educational Association and attending night classes after work.

He started as an apprentice in the building industry, but switched to ship-building in 1938 as the war loomed.

He was keen to join the Royal Navy, but denied the opportunity because building ships was classified as essential war work.

In 1947, he took a job as an industrial plumber and welder with the Newcastle and Gateshead Gas Company.

He had already joined the PTU in 1939, and soon became a shop steward and lodge official for the union. He also served as chairman of his local Trades Union Council and as a borough councillor from 1952 to 1958.

He then became a full time official of the plumbers union, representing the north east, until his election as General Secretary.

He was instrumental in the setting up of the Joint Industry Boards for plumbing, heating and domestic engineering.

He was crucial to the setting up of the industry-based pension scheme and training schemes. He served on many official panels, including City and Guilds, to further his vision of providing training to people in the industry.

His work on behalf of his members earned him national recognition and in 1979 he was made an OBE.

Mr Lovell also served for many years on National Economic Development Organisations and on Seeboard, as a non-executive member.

He moved to Larkfield in 1984.

In retirement, he became an ardent traveller, and with his wife Irene visited Austria, Spain and Italy, and became a regular visitor to America.

At home the couple helped start the Larkfield Active Retirement Association and took up playing indoor bowls, taking part in many competitions around the country.

During this period Mr Lovell enjoyed spending more time with his five children, 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

His daughter Kate Dunstall said: “He always worked extremely hard. In the early days, he worked seven days a week and then spent the evenings on union or council business.

“He was a very kind man, always trying to help other people. What most people remember him for was his integrity. He was a very honest man. An old-school socialist.”

Mr Lovell died on Monday, October 13, in Maidstone Hospital. He was 91.

His wife had predeceased him eight years earlier.

His funeral will be on Tuesday, November 4, with a requiem mass at the St Thomas More RC Church in West Malling at 10.15am, followed by cremation at Vinters Park at 11.45am.