Council pays tribute to former councillors

Martin served as a district councillor since 1986. He represented Chorleywood West and, later, Chorleywood South and Maple Cross following ward boundary changes. He stood down from service before the 2023 local election due to ill health.

During his time as a councillor, he was Lead Member for Housing, Planning and Strategic Schemes, a member of several committees, and then became Vice-Chair of the district council in 2020/21. Outside of his duties as a councillor, he spearheaded a project to convert an unused listed Met box in Chorleywood station into a museum for the community.

Barbara, a longstanding resident of South Oxhey, was the district councillor for Hayling ward in the 1980s. She sadly passed away after a short illness.

Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Leader of Three Rivers District Council, said: “On behalf of the council and councillors, I would like to send my deepest condolences to Martin’s and Barbara’s friends and family.

“Martin once said that standing down from his seat was ‘the saddest day of his life’. He always put his service to the public first over himself and clearly loved being the voice of his community until the very end.

“We will miss Martin’s heart of gold and his humour. I am sure the people of Chorleywood and further afield will miss him too and remember his legacy for generations to come.

“I would also like to pay tribute to Barbara for her hard work as a councillor and for being a force for the residents of Hayling in South Oxhey. I am sure her work has made a huge impact, and she will be missed by her constituents.”

Cllr Raj Khiroya, Chair of Three Rivers District Council, said: “I was devasted on hearing the sad news of Martin Trevett passing away, Martin was a dear friend and a close colleague for many years; we both represented Chorleywood South and Maple Cross.

“Martin was an outstanding councillor for 37 years who dedicated his life to serve the residents. A great loss for the community he was proud to represent.”

Cllr Oliver Cooper, Conservative Group Leader, said: "It may seem strange, but my very first political involvement was delivering leaflets for Martin around Chorleywood with my dad as a child. While our ultimate choice of political parties differed, it was clear to me then - and even clearer now - that Martin was beloved by our community.

"Seeing Martin persevere, even as his health failed, was a reminder of his love for Chorleywood in return. His spirit of public service has been an example to so many of us and I hope it continues to be."

Cllr Stephen Cox, Labour Group Leader, said: “I and the other Labour councillors were sad to learn of Martin's passing. We all knew him well and he was always very amiable.

“He served residents with distinction and tenacity over many years. Our sincere condolences to his friends and family.

“I knew Barbara, and she represented the old Hayling Ward in South Oxhey with distinction between 1984 and 1988,” Cllr Cox added.

“I believe her mother was a councillor before her. Barbara was a pretty indomitable character and fought tenaciously for South Oxhey.

“She would always help on election day taking numbers, usually at Greenfields School. You could always pop round for her signature on a nomination paper, and she would cheerfully oblige.

“The thoughts of the Labour Group are with Barbara's friends and family.”

Cllr Chris Mitchell and The Green Party Team said: “We want to thank Martin and his family for all the work and effort eh put into serving the residents of Three Rivers, and pass out condolences to his family. He was someone who put a lot of his life into the service of residents and he will be remembered for that.

They added: “We wish to pass our condolences to the family of Babara Woolner and to thank her for the time she served as a councillor and that is respected in serving the local residents.”

Cllr Harry Davies, ward member for Chorleywood South and Maple Cross, said: “I was a fellow Chorleywood councillor with Martin for many years and knew Martin from my first residing in Chorleywood 26 years ago. We became close friends over the years. I soon appreciated Martin’s tremendous commitment to the community, and the many hours he spent every week helping to resolve issues raised by residents. Martin was a lovely, generous, kind man, and a highly respected local politician. He will be sadly missed.”