"He lived his Socialism"
My father was a wonderful man. Not a perfect man, as he was always the first to acknowledge – except in fun. His sense of humour was one of his many saving graces.
I want to concentrate on the things that made him what he was. Above all he was a socialist through and through.
Charlie believed firmly in the infinite possibilities of the combined human spirit to accomplish everything it wanted to, while accepting that it could be for good or evil, depending on the circumstances.
Unlike those who are religious, the political activist believes that direct, personal, co-operative intervention is what makes the difference.
So things could not be left to other people. If you wanted something done, you not only had to do it yourself, you had to do it in a way that pulled in others and ensured that you did it together. That was the philosophy he brought me up with.
The second thing that made him important and unique was that he lived his socialism, while acknowledging the limits of living in a capitalist, materialist society.
I have known many people who call themselves socialists, and no doubt they are.
Over and over again I have heard people say things which have made me think: "I wouldn’t want to live in their version of a socialist society".
No body ever said that about Charlie. In fact many said exactly the opposite to me.
(Part of Charlie's daughter Leonora Lloyd’s speech at his funeral.)