Russ Smith & Family
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Russell Smith (Russ) moved from Ashford to Lenham with his parents in 1979 when he was ten, although he was no stranger to the village. He had loved the village ever since and is deeply committed to helping the community. He has served as a fireman here and he is a trustee of the Lenham Social Club, as was his uncle George Chambers, whose wife Brenda is sister to Russ’s father Roger, who is president of the Lenham Social Club. Russ is also keenly involved both as a life-guard at Lenham Swimming Pool at Swadelands School and with the campaign to keep it operating for the people of Lenham. More volunteers needed, he says, so if you value this amenity take note! Russ’s mother, Sylvia, works as a volunteer at the Heart of Kent Hospice shop in the village square. As for Russ’s career path, it’s been an interesting and varied one. Originally he wanted to join the
Russ Smith & Family
Army, but this was ruled out when he was afflicted with ‘clicky hips’ at the age of thirteen. Nothing daunted, he worked on various jobs both here and in the ‘big smoke’ where he was contracts manager at a scaffolding firm. The delights of commuting to London by car or motorcycle faded after nine years however, and then fate took a helping hand. Spurred on by a £5 bet, he joined the prison service, attracted by the elements of structure and discipline that he had hoped to experience in the Army. He has now worked as a prison officer for over eight years in local Kent facilities, a career he finds both challenging and rewarding. It isn’t just Russ who is involved in village life. It’s a family affair. Russ met his future wife, Nicola (Nick), when they were both fourteen when they were briefly at the same school. Nick is a Lenham native but fate did Russ a good turn in arranging for them first to meet at