Carl Smith 1926-2011

[William the White]

My father died two days ago.

Only a few hours before he died, even as he struggled to breathe, he listened, half-nodding as I talked to him about the game against Wigan. The Wanderers were so important to him and, because of him, to me, and because of me to my daughter, and because of just all of us throughout our family. The Wanderers have been there for ever.

My dad was born in 1926, and saw his first match in 1933. He grew up in Orlando Street, five minutes away from Burnden Park, from their backyard they could hear the crowd. They could probably smell it.

My dad was a centre lathe turner, who worked twelve hour night shifts, and often seven days a week, to raise his family. He was a socialist and trade unionist all his life. He was a reader. He loved the theatre. He never once raised his hand to his children.

A few days before he died he talked about the happy times in his life. Amongst the list – being there at the 1958 cup final. And taking his grand daughter, my daughter, to a whole bunch of away games when she was 13-16 years old and in besotted love with the Whites.

He was a volunteer until the age of 84 at his local primary school, helping kids who were falling behind with their reading – he may have been the oldest volunteer in the country on this scheme.

I am so proud of my father. My brothers and I met last night to discuss the necessary stuff – and found he had left brief notes of his final wishes – no flowers at his funeral, no clergy, but the playing of ‘Spread a Little Happiness’ and his family and friends to ‘enjoy a meal’ after his funeral.

I feel terribly, terribly bereft, but today I’m going to the cup game. He would be angry with me if I didn’t.

[Lord Kangana]

Sorry for your loss William...

My Grandfather (similar age to your dad) died between the home and away ties against Atletico. He and my dad were the first to take me to a Wanderers game, 26 years ago. He died holding me and my dads hands, sadly unaware of much of the world as he struggeld with Alzheimers at the end. We gave him a right royal send off in Madrid, reminiscing on what he would have made of the Wanderers playing on foreign shores, and our days on terraces up and down the country (and th leagues).

I owe him for not allowing me to be a United fan, a debt I will always remember and can never pay off.

His happier times involved being the sole survivor of a trench-load of troops who were Stuka bombed, a mate saving his life... and he was a working class Tory. But as a fellow Wanderer, I can forgive anything.

So RIP Carl Smith, a fellow Wanderer (and Socialist to boot!), and lets hope for a 4th round tie in his honour!

[2399]

Sounds like he was a great man and lived a good life.

Sorry for your loss

[Zulus Thousand of em]

Sorry to hear that Will. It's obvious that he was a fine man. Celebrate his life.

RIP.

[KeeeeeeeBaaaaaaab]

My thoughts are with you Will. Memories of him telling us about the old days at Burnden, at your house after the Charlton game, while we watched the floodlights turning off from your kitchen window for the very last time, have just flooded back. And, I'm not reluctant to say, with a tear in my eye.

What a wonderful man he was, and I'm sure DSB will convey similar thoughts to me in a much more touching manner.

RIP Carl.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

Terrible news, William. I think any man's life is well-lived if his family is as proud of him as you are of your old man. He sounds like one of the good ones. Sincere condolences.

[ebby]

sad news, sounds like a great man...enjoy the game today and all the best

[Bruce Rioja]

Sincere condolences, William. I know from our own conversations how proud you are of your dad, and deservedly so. My thoughts are with you.

[jaffka]

William, you have my sincere sympathy.

May your memories be your comfort.

[Raven]

Sorry to hear your news, from your words above he was clearly a great man and father.

Go to the game for him and celebrate his life

[Worthy4England]

My heartfelt condolences to you and your family William.

Sounds like the world's just turned a little colder.

[TANGODANCER]

Not many words will help much with your loss WTW, but take much comfort in the fact that your dad was obviously your friend right to the end. Thoughts and deepest sympathies are with you right now.

[InsaneApache]

My sincere condolences. Must be a terrible time for you and your family. Kudos for going to the match as your dad would have wanted.

R.I.P.

[thebish]

commiserations...

My Father's Diary
by Sharon Olds

I get into bed with it, and spring
the scarab legs of its locks. Inside,
the stacked, shy wealth of his print—
he could not write in script, so the pages
are sturdy with the beamwork of printedness,
WENT TO LOOK AT A CAR, DAD
IN A GOOD MOOD AT DINNER, WENT
TO TRY OUT SOME NEW TENNIS RACQUETS,
LUNCH WITH MOM, life of ease—
except when he spun his father's DeSoto on the
ice, and a young tree whirled up to the
hood, throwing up her arms—until
LOIS. PLAYED TENNIS, WITH LOIS,
LUNCH WITH MOM AND LOIS, LOIS
LIKED THE CAR, DRIVING WITH LOIS,
LONG DRIVE WITH LOIS. And then,
LOIS! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! SHE IS SO
GOOD, SO SWEET, SO GENEROUS, I HAVE
NEVER, WHAT HAVE I EVER DONE
TO DESERVE SUCH A GIRL? Between the dark
legs of the capitals, moonlight, soft
tines of the printed letter gentled
apart, nectar drawn from serif, the
self of the grown boy pouring
out, the heart's charge, the fresh
man kneeling in pine-needle weave,
worshipping her. It was my father
good, it was my father grateful,
it was my father dead, who had left me
these small structures of his young brain—
he wanted me to know him, he wanted
someone to know him.

[Il Pirate]

Sincere condolences William, to you and your family.

[Gary the Enfield]

Deepest sympathies, William. He sounds like a nice bloke.

He'd have enjoyed the result today, too.

[officer_dibble]

Sorry to hear this William

Hope you found some consolation in the result and on reflection of what sounds like a good life

[sluffy]

My condolences William.

My late mother was just a couple of years older than your dad and lived off Orlando Street. It's very likely he knew my mam and her brothers, one of whom must have been about your dads age.

My first memory of Bolton Wanderers is sat on my granddad’s door step as a wee nipper watching the crowds coming home from the match over Orlando Bridge!

[keveh]

Glad the Whites got the result for you today.

[Harry Genshaw]

Sorry for you and your families loss Will. I hope the Whites will do him proud this year