Robert Barltrop (6 November 1922 – 26 April 2009) was an English socialist activist, essayist, and biographer, as well as being an artist and illustrator.
Barltrop grew up in the East End of London, descended from a long line of blacksmiths, although his great-grandfather had become highly successful as a brickmaker and builder, and was responsible for the building of large numbers of houses in Walthamstow.
During World War II, he served with the Royal Air Force, but was invalided out with tuberculosis before seeing active service.
Barltrop also published widely and his books include: The Monument: Story of the Socialist Party of Great Britain (1975),[1] Jack London: The Man, the Writer, the Rebel (1977),[2] Muvver Tongue with Jim Wolveridge (1980),[3] A Funny Age (Growing up in North East London between the Wars) (1985).
Robert Barltrop was President of the Waltham Forest Local History Society, and was a proud and respected member of the Old Monovians Association, the 'old boys' organisation of the Monoux School.