Residents Invited to Thanksgiving Service for "Mr Hammersmith"

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Emlyn Road resident Bill was four time mayor, council leader and long serving councillor

Resident are invited to a thanksgiving service at St Paul's Church in Hammersmith on Wednesday April 15 in memory of Bill Smith, a former mayor and council leader who was so dedicated to our borough that he was nicknamed "Mr Hammersmith".

Bill served Hammersmith & Fulham as council leader from 1968 to 1971 and after remained as a councillor for Wormholt Ward until 1986 when he lost his seat.  He was re-elected to represent Ravenscourt Ward in 1990 and was a councillor until 1998.

He served as mayor four times and deputy mayor once from 1978 to 1982. Bill, who also served on the Greater London Council for two terms, was awarded an MBE for his political work.

He was a magistrate for about 30 years, a director of QPR FC, was a governor of Latymer Upper School for 40 years and a member of Hammersmith Rotary Club.

Tony Hennessy, who joined Bill as a councillor in 1978, says: " Bill was Mr Hammersmith. He was well known and quite a character. He cared about Hammersmith and he cared about the job.  

" He had the kind of charisma not many people have."

Another long-time friend, Pamela Mulcaire, who knew Bill for 40 years, said: " He was extremely thoughtful and kind and always gave you good advice. His judgement was very good and he was always very good at putting words together."

Bill worked for the chemical company ICI for 30 years before taking early retirement because of heart problems. He also served in the territorial army before the Second World War before fighting in the regular army in the conflict in North Africa.

He lived in the borough almost his whole life until three years ago when he moved from his home in Emlyn Road to Eastbourne to be nearer his family.

Bill died on March 30 aged 96. He leaves behind His brother Sidney Smith, daughter Penny Hillier, son Chris Smith, three granddaughters and two great-grandsons.

Bill's son Chris says: " On Wednesday 15 April 2015 there will be a graveside service and committal at Mortlake Cemetery at 2pm, which will afterwards be followed by a thanksgiving/memorial service at 3.30pm at St Paul's Hammersmith. Refreshments follow that service, also in the church.

" Both services will be conducted by the vicar of St Paul’s – Simon Downham (who, incidentally, served with Dad as a governor of Latymer Upper and on several charity committees with him). "

Everyone is welcome to attend the thanksgiving service, but Chris adds: " If anyone reading this would like to come to the St Paul’s service and would be likely to stay on for refreshments afterwards, could they let me know as I need to have an idea of how many to cater for."

Chris' contact details are: Chris Smith at tel: 01256 771122; email: cpsmith@tiscali.co.uk.

April 13, 2015