Only just seen this by accident. So very sad to hear about the wonderful me Smith. He was my house master who was always very firm but very fair. Fondly known as PC Smith.
Patrick Cecil Smith (28 May 1935 - 25 Apr 2020)
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In loving memory of Patrick Cecil Smith who sadly passed away on 25th April 2020
Pat was born in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk on 28th May 1935. After spending most of his childhood in Leigh, Lancashire, he moved to Nottingham in 1954 to do a degree in Mathematics. Here he met his wife Ivy and they married in 1958. After teaching at Langley Grammar School, Buckinghamshire, they returned to Nottingham in 1961. Pat taught at Fairham Comprehensive School in Clifton, was Head of Penney House and began his work in School Sport. He joined the English Schools Football Association and became Chairman in 1981-82 and life member in 1990.
In 1990 he took early retirement from teaching and started work for the National Council for Schools Sport. He dedicated his life to School Sport, also being involved in a voluntary capacity in many other sporting organisations in the UK and becoming an influential figure. He was also a qualified football referee and taught on many refereeing courses. He refereed the football semi-final at the Barcelona Paralympics in 1992.
In 2002 he was awarded an MBE for services to School Sport in the East Midlands, presented by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace.
Pat and Ivy had two daughters, Karen born in 1967 and Alison in 1970. Sadly Alison died in a car accident a few weeks short of her 13th birthday. Ivy passed away after a long battle with cancer in 2002 and Pat continued to throw himself into his work with School Sport, refereeing and foreign travel. He also spent a lot of time with his Grandson George born in 2003. He became involved with organisations such as the University of the 3rd Age, Nottingham Mechanics, Comedy Club and he loved his Sunday evening visits to the Nottingham Jazz Club. He also mentored foreign students at Nottingham University, showing them the sites and culture of Nottingham.
He continued with all these activities until 2018 aged 83. A combination of Parkinson’s Disease and cancer meant that he had to be cared for at Church Farm Nursing Home, Cotgrave in the final year of his life where he passed away peacefully.
Over the years he made so many friends in all walks of life, being happiest surrounded by people and making them laugh. He was a very special person and a true gentleman, who will be greatly missed by family, friends and colleagues.
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