“The world is a poorer place without him. He lived a good and long life. I think he was always meant to as he was torpedoed twice and survived to tell the tale.
“He campaigned for free public transport all his life. There are so many things that he will be remembered for.”
Prominent Labour councillor in the 1980s and former Labour Party President Tony Mulhearn also paid tribute to Charlie’s strong sense of values.
He said: “Charlie was a great socialist from an industrial background.
“A man who will be remembered for his loyalty to socialism and to the working class.
“I knew him back when I was first a Labour delegate in 1963 and he was a socialist then and he died one.
“I am proud to have known him and his death will be treated with great sadness.”
Mr Crute’s funeral will be held on Thursday, 12.15pm, at St George’s Church, Everton.
