TRIBUTES have been paid to a ‘man of great integrity’ who served as secretary to a local agricultural union for half a century.

Oliver Trevett died in January this year aged 91.

His funeral took place at St Nicholas’ Church, Blandford and was attended by friends and family as well as local, regional and national representatives of the trade union movement.

Tributes were paid by Tony Gould, a neighbour and former officer of the NAtional Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers (NUAWW) and Nigel Costley, of the South West Trade Union Congress (TUC).

Mr Trevett was born on September 16 1927 near Dorchester and died at home at the TUC Memorial Cottages in Toldpuddle on January 7. He leaves a widow, Joan.

Mr Trevett was secretary of the Winterborne Clenston branch of the NUAAW for approximately 50 years and as such was elected vice-chair and then chair of the Dorset area committee of the union.

In that capacity he made the welcoming address to visitors from all over the UK and the rest of the world, at this internationally famous annual Tolpuddle Martyrs Rally in July each year.

Friend Barry Leathwood said: “For more than half a century he combined union work representing often vulnerable workers with his job as a skilled ploughman. Oliver was a man of great integrity, loved by his union colleagues and members and respected by all who knew him In addition to his union work he was a governor of Kington Maurward Agricultural College, a member of the local agricultural wages committee and treasurer of his local church amongst other things.”

The Tolpuddle Martyrs Rally commemorates the six local men who were convicted of swearing an illegal oath, but their real crime in the eyes of the establishment was to have formed a trade union.