NORMAN SMITH

MR Norman Smith, formerly of Accrington, died on June 13 aged 74.

Norman was born in Accrington in November 1940 and lived in Clement St with his parents Ernest and Florrie Smith and his younger sister Olive.

He went to Lee Royd nursery then Hannah Street Infants and later attended Spring Hill junior, then Woodnook senior schools (the latter fondly called The Hudson St. Academy).

He finished his education in Accrington at the College of Further Education on Sandy Lane. He represented his school at swimming along with Raymond Clark and Harry Woods and two other boys.

He was also a member of Accrington Swimming Club, under the direction of Les Dean.

The baths were in St James Street and the superintendent was Alec Broadley, his wife taught many a youngster to swim. Norman started his working life at R G Smith (Engineering) in Oak Street. At the age of 17 he left Accrington to attend Loughborough University.

He met his wife Ann in 1959 and they married four years later before moving to South Africa a year later.

They lived there for the last 40 years and Norman worked for various companies.

He also ran his own management consultancy company for the last 10 years and was a member and twice president of the Rotary Club of Benoni Van Ryn.

He leaves Ann, children Debbie Mockler, Kerrin Smith and Hilary Jackson, grandchildren Kirsty, Steph, Siovhan, Rowan, Caitlin, Ella and Josh and great-grandson Cade.

A memorial service was held in Airfield on June 22.