‘EX-POLICEMAN JOE ALWAYS PUT OTHERS BEFORE HIMSELF’
Tributes to ‘anchor’ of residents’ group
GRIEVING family and friends have led tributes to a retired police officer who became a champion of his community.
Former Staffordshire Police sergeant Joe Smith had been expected to return to his Sandyford home after he was admitted to the Royal Stoke University Hospital.
But the 89-year-old – who lived in Sandyford – died in hospital on March 12.
The dad-of-two leaves wife Joyce and five grandchildren. His funeral service and cremation takes place at Bradwell Crematorium at midday on April 9.
Son Dave Smith, aged 66, from Sandyford, said: “You expect him to come home but he’s not, it’s heartbreaking.”
Mr Smith joined Staffordshire Police in 1953. He retired from the force in 1982.
Dave added: “My father was a very kind and generous man. When he was a policeman he was serving the community. He did lots for his family, relatives and friends. He gave of himself in so many ways.
“In this time he became a sergeant and worked in Hanley, Burslem and Tunstall. He was widely known. I would walk around with him and lots of people would say hello to him. He was quite a respected figure in the community.
“As a policeman he was more in tune with the modern idea of community policing than many were in those days. His job was to keep the peace and help people. He also went on to work for Newcastle Borough Council for 10 years after the police force.
“He had a great sense of humour and loved a good pun. He was a warm and generous person.”
Mr Smith loved photography, gardening and baking. He was also a founder member of Sandyford and Goldenhill Residents’ Association and served as its chairman.
Association secretary
Tom Simpson said: “He was the anchor of our residents’ association.
“You could always go and speak to him. His decisions were wise and it would make you think twice about things.
“He was a caring man and would do anything to support local residents. He put himself out there to help people.
“We complemented each other. One memory I have was a High Street car park being full of rubbish. His main thing was to try to get rid of it. It took 13 years as a residents’ association to get this resolved. We had him officially open the car park back in 2015.
“When he officially opened the car park I suggested we have a plaque next to the car park entrance. But he said no and didn’t want it put there.
“He wanted it to be slightly moved away because people would be looking at that instead of concentrating on their driving. He was all for preventing accidents and people’s safety. He would put other people before him.”