Mr. Talbot was first elected in 1949 as a councillor for the then Merton and Morden Urban District Council, a position he held for 16 years. He then served as a councillor for the London Borough of Merton from 1964 to 1982 and was elected Mayor of Merton for the civic year 1981/1982.

When Merton was formed in 1965, Honorary Alderman Talbot held the influential position of the first Council Leader until 1971. Mr. Talbot returned to the role of Council Leader for a further year from 1974 to 1975. He was then made an Honorary Alderman for his long service to the Council in 1990.

The funeral will take place at 2.00pm on Friday 4 March at St. Margaret’s Church, The Green, Rottingdean, East Sussex. His widow, Mrs. Jean Talbot would like to invite Mr. Talbot’s former colleagues to the service.

Mayor of Merton, Councillor Margaret Brierly, said: ‘My thoughts are with Mr. Talbot’s family at this sad time. He will be fondly remembered for his major contribution to public life in the London Borough of Merton.’