Filton community stalwart, campaigner and fundraiser Brian Smith has died, aged 88.
Brian was a tireless champion of his local community with wide-ranging interests, from am-dram to bowls as well as raising money for Filton’s charity, Filton Chest & Heart.
He was born in Bedminster in 1936 but grew up in Patchway, attending Patchway Junior School and Charborough Road Secondary, (and once got fined for mowing a cricket pitch in the middle of a farmer’s field with his friends!) After he left school, he worked in the signal box at Pilning Junction and later worked at BAC, which became British Aerospace, as a Forecast Engineer. He took early retirement at 52 and he and Pat had lots of lovely holidays and cruises.
He met Pat at a dance at ‘The Bish’, (Bishopston Parish Hall) in 1957, and they got married in June 1960. They lived in a flat in Muller Ave for a short while, then bought a house in Filton where they lived for 62 years, during which time Andy and Debbie were born. After they were both married and grandchildren came along, he loved being Grampy to Rachel, Rian and James.
He enjoyed am-dram and joined Patchway Players, and later the Apollo Players, where as well as being on stage, he took on Box Office, Front of House, and Treasurer.
Brian was a Bristol City supporter for over 80 years, from the age of two sitting on his father’s shoulders, to having a season ticket in the Dolman stand. He played tennis with friends twice a week, and loved watching Wimbledon. When he retired, he joined Avonvale Bowls club and quickly became involved with committee duties.
Later he moved to a more local club, BAC (BAWA)Bowls Club, in Filton, where amongst other things he organised the presentation dinners, was Fixture Secretary, Chairman, and finally President.
For many years he was chair of Filton Chest & Heart Committee, helping to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for local doctor’s surgeries, and Cardiac & Respiratory Departments at Southmead Hospital. The Committee was also responsible for providing defibrillators for the churches and schools in Filton and he pressurised Filton Town Council into funding additional units.
His interests covered many aspects of local life:
- He was chair of Filton Garden Club, running the club and organising day trips to lovely gardens, and he was a founder member of Filton Community Garden, helping to plan & create, raising thousands of pounds towards upkeep and development.
- Brian was an active campaigner to help save Filton Clinic
- He campaigned to save Elm Park from becoming a toxic landfill site.
- He fought to save Elm Park from the A4174 road- widening scheme, which would have lost half of the Community Garden, Boules Court,Cycle Speedway track, Skateboard Park and approx 200 trees.
- Brian attended many Filton Town Council meetings, raising concerns of residents.
- He was a lane gate organiser and co-ordinator for Third Ave.
- He successfully campaigned for a bus shelter outside Springfields.
- He campaigned to remove BS7 postcode from some of Filton’s properties.
l Brian fought against saturation of HMOs in Filton.
- He also kindly delivered Filton Voice to sheltered accommodation and local shops.
Pat said: “Brian was an amazing man! He was a pillar of the community, an unsung hero, a brilliant organiser and an excellent chairman, who cared passionately about everything he was involved with.
“After a bad fall in 2022, it was decided to move to Stoke Gifford Retirement Village, where there were many facilities for elderly & disabled people.
“He joined the gym and went to all the exercise classes to improve his mobility, but in August he had a chest infection, which, despite treatment, developed into pneumonia.”
Due to ongoing health issues that could not be resolved, it was decided he should have ‘End of Life’ care at home and he passed away on 17th October, 2024.