Derek Smith memorial book

Celebrating the life of

DEREK SMITH

8th September 1936 - 16th November 2015

Derek Smith Derek was born on the 8th September 1936 in Houghton-le-Spring. The son of Jack and Elsie he had an older sister Noreen.

Derek attended Newbottle Secondary School leaving at the age of 15, he had two local jobs before joining the army in 1954. In the Army he trained as a communications officer in the Royal Signals Regiment, during this time he served in Hong Kong with time also spent in Aden, Singapore, Ceylon and South Africa.

After leaving the army Derek spent a couple of years in civvie street before deciding to join the police force. He applied for and was accepted into the Newcastle City Police in December 1960.

Derek spent most of his early years in the police serving in the Central Division at Pilgrim Street.

Here he dealt with every conceivable incident one could imagine.

Derek was promoted to Sergeant and was posted to the West End Division, although still part of the city it was a different environment to the Central, with more residential property. He served as a patrol sergeant and then did four years as Station Sergeant at the Divisional HQ on Westgate Road.

The time Derek spent in the force were very happy years for him. He retired in 1985.

Derek married Joan on 16th June 1962 at St Helen’s Church Low Fell.

They set up home in Low Fell.

Living first in Dean Street followed by a move to Primrose Hill. Their son Darin was born in 1965 and Daughter Lisa in 1973.

They had many friends in Low Fell and Derek had many happy memories of their time there.

In 1986 Derek wanted a new challenge and decided that running a pub may be the answer, he travelled many miles looking at premises throughout the north east ranging from Ripon to Amble. Derek and Joan finally decided on buying the Royal Oak at Satley. They invested a great deal of effort with help from friends and family to refurbish the run-down pub. The pub was opened for business in March 1986, economically it was a difficult time for all country pubs and although they tried their best. After 18 months the pub was sold.

After 6 months of living at Frosterley in Weardale, Derek and Joan decided to move back to Satley. Joan was appointed as Sub Postmistress and a tiny room in the house became the post office, bringing many villagers into their home.

Throughout his life Derek had a great passion for music, he taught himself how to read music and to play his beloved Technics electronic organ. One of his lifelong unfulfilled ambitions had been to play a theatre or mighty wurlitzer organ.

In 1993 Lisa gave birth to Derek’s first grandchild, Daniel. This gave Derek great joy. Daniel’s health was beset with problems from the moment he was born, Derek thought the world of Daniel and doted on him.

Derek helped Lisa and Daniel through some hard times but Daniel provided him in return with great happiness.

In 1996 grandson Jack was born and again this brought great happiness into the family. Derek was proud of Jack from the moment he was born but especially of the man he has become.

Derek reaped great pleasure and enjoyment from spending time with his two grandsons and only wished that he could have done more to help make their lives more comfortable and secure. He did his best to show that he loved them and let them know they were the apple of his eye.

Together again