Stephen Smith (28 Mar 1948 - 10 Sep 2014)

Steve my old rocker mate didn't we have some laughs about that .some great holidays and lots of laughter usually at your expense but you took it all in good fun as it was meant .No longer in pain and at peace now . Gonna miss you mate luv u Jude xx
My brother in law Steve I know we had our ups and downs but I will miss you so much sleep tight .Much love Jackyxx

Miss you mate. You've left a big space. Hard act to follow. Dave and Vanda.

Stephen Smith was this real life racer that had come to my parents church at Kirkby in Ashfield. When I met him I thought that I need to be around this bloke, as he is an exciting person that I want to be with. He was talking all about his bike racing and one Sunday he came up to the church with his van and in the back of this van amongst the smell of petrol was Steve's race bike. I was in my element and even said if he wants a mechanic I'm here. Steve said that he already had a mechanic, but if I could get over to Darley Moor (Race Track) I would be able to see him racing in the stars of Darley. I didn't get to go as we was going away that weekend.
I knew that Steve and Beryl had a daughter Tracey, but I missed meeting her one evening at my house as I was out with the lads, I was only 16 and messing about with the gang was my life as we was always having fun.But one bonfire night I get asked then told that I was going to a bonfire behind the dental surgery on Diamond Ave in Kirkby. I got there and I was told that I was in charge of the fire works. after they was done I went around handing out sparklers and it took three sparklers for Tracey to take one off of me. Boom that was it I knew this was the one for me. After a few near misses and a first date where she never turned up!! Steve pulled up outside our house with Tracey in the back of the range rover. That bwas it she had nowhere to go, she was mine lol.
We had great times having parties where Steve would be singing his heart out. It was fun times and the fun never stopped. We had our first child Demi and that phone call to say happy Grand parents day. Well it was glad times but sad at the same time as Demi was born with a cleft in her pallet. That meant that she didn't have any roof to her mouth. She had her gums but you could see all the way into her nasal cavity. I don't think Steve quite understood until he saw what we was on about. I saw a different side to Steve. It was amazing how he looked into the condition. We researched doctors and medical suppliers to the point that I designed a special feeding bottle teat. Steve was brilliant, he would explain our Demi's condition to friends, he was a proud grandad.
Then a couple of years later Tracey decided to come into the garage with Steve and Beryl and ask me to marry her, it was funny as I was only talking to Fraz (my best bud) that I need to ask Steve for Tracey's hand. At the wedding when we was signing the register Steve sung for us and that was emotional and it will be again tomorrow as Steve has done a recording where he is singing a song for his funeral.
Two years after we got married we had our second child Hollie Mae, daddy's baby and we was all worried that there could be complications with Hollie, but she was perfect. Steve had been praying for Hollie to be born perfect and she is.
We all had great times on holiday with all the family. We shown Steve, Beryl, Jacky and Judy our little hide away holiday retreat. It was where we went for our honeymoon in my uncle Pete's caravan. It was Wells Next to the Sea. It became a yearly get together in August. Then take the new year in at Tenerife until it got too expensive to go. We had some great holidays laughing at Steve doing his grandad dancing and having fun on the beaches. Everywhere we went we had fun, the only time Steve didn't have fun was when we was stuck in traffic. Then it was "I'll show you a different route along the back roads to get there" It wasn't it was a way to get back home. That was always his bugbear Traffic jams on the weekends. He would say 'he's had enough of them in the week!'
When Steve took ill we told him to 'demand something done' to his doctor. Even his older Brother Terry in Bulgaria told him to ask the doctor to put a camera down his throat to see what the problem is. He got an appointment and I took him to City Hospital. After he was recovering from the anaesthetic the surgeon came to his bed and said "Mr Smith you have a extremely large tumour and you have a couple of weeks". Steve didn't understand him and he was still under the anaesthetic. I said "it's Stephen Smith with a 'PH'!" He said "yes and take him home to be with his family" I was in shock and asked "is there anything that can be done?" and the doctor said "no don't waste government money!" I didn't know what to do and I looked at Steve's face and I could see the shock coming to him with him seeing how I looked! I went to the hospital chapel and went up to the alter and the bible was open, so I looked down and I got to something that read "The lord will send his army of angles to rid the terror and evil possession, let battle commence!" something along them lines. I went back to the word and I was stood on the end of the beds and Steve was trying to get my attention and I told him "give me a few minutes please Steve!" I saw that the surgeon was just seeing his last patient. I then stopped the surgeon and told him that this was not Steve's disease and it doesn't belong to him. The surgeon said that there wasn't much he could do for Steve as the cancer was on lymph nodes and to take him home and keep him comfortable. I said loudly "NO!" "What would you do for your father?" The surgeon looked at me sorrowfully, "but you don't understand, he's got two grand daughter and they wont understand that I've come from hospital to say that their grandad has got days to live!" "You said government money! It doesn't matter how much it cost we will find it!" The surgeon then looked to his secretary and said "get Mr Smith booked in as soon as possible". "This is not a cure it maybe give him time for the girls to understand what's going to happen to him. He might see Christmas!" He got took into Chemotherapy within days.
I would like to say this "Steve saw three Christmases! And that's an answer to prayer!"
I would like to add that Steve was a great person, a well liked person, hadn't got a bad word for anyone and always saw the good in people even if we couldn't see it. He loved his family and church, and was always up for a laugh even if he embarrassed us lol. And if there was an excuse to dress up you bet he was first dressed lol.
We are losing a grandad, father in law, father, husband and all round great bloke
Steve we all love you greatly and I'm missing you my mate. You get on that bike up in heaven and I know you are taking them baffles out of the exhausts to make it louder. You show them how to ride it buddy love you forever xxxxxxx

I feel so blessed to have a friend in dear "Motorbike Steve" as my boys called him. His faith was unwavering, like his friendship and love. Always smiling, joking and sharing his deep faith. He is a shining example of Christianity in action! Now sing before your beloved Lord, Steve! I will miss you so much. My love in Jesus to you and your precious family.x

I could write loads with all the adventures you took me and your Tracey on , from swimming to dog walking down the brook, then sledging on Kirkby lane pit tip . You was the dad every child would have wanted. the life and soul of every party. I bet your singing right now with your sparkling eyes and welcoming smile.. forever in our hearts and always in our thoughts god bless you steve.. joanne paul and boys xxx

R.i.p my thoughts are with you and your family, i didnt really know you but you sound like a real loving funny man you will be missed by many! ill allways be there for your family if they ever need me! Sleep tight love from nikki and family x

Love u so much and pain u have been in has now gone, pain free we will miss u so much our heart is so broken, but I know dad that u would not want us to be upset,so hear I say our hearts r with u for ever and ever and love u lots and lots miss u forever xxxxxxx

Sadly gone but never forgotten, hope you be with me most on your new journeys grandad, I know most of the time you will be riding your Moterbike and singing your heart out, I love you grandad and always will, love Hollie Mae xxxxxxxx

Never a truer gent as this man.. loved his family embraced life and lived a happy life. Now at peace and sadly missed by all. R.I.P. Ride like the wind xxxx

Gone but never forgotten, all your pains gone now and you will be a pain free man, I love you grandad and always will, hope you are with me most of your new journeys lots of love Hollie Mae

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there - I do not sleep.
I am the thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints in snow,
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
As you awake with morning's hush
I am the swift-up-flinging rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there - I did not die.
RIP Stephen xxx

Sadly you are gone, However not from our memories.

Your no longer suffering now grandad, gone to be an angel in the sky. Love you so much forever and always, Demi Lou xxx