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It is with much sadness that I have to report the death of
Francis B Smith FBHI, my fellow tutor, colleague and friend from West Dean College,
Chichester. After a remission of two years his cancer unfortunately reappeared and,
despite further treatment, he passed away at the end of November 1998.
Frank’s Horological
career began with an apprenticeship in his native Cornwall in the early thirties but was
interrupted by the hostilities when he volunteered for the RAF as an instrument mechanic,
serving in the British Expeditionary Force. In 1941 he became an instructor at the RAF
school of technical training and after subsequent air crew training in Canada, Frank
learnt navigation and continued his service in Bomber Command, finishing his war as a
chief instructor navigation, attaining the rank of Squadron Leader. This was then followed
by many years as flight navigator on VIP duties, flying with many royal persons and
political leaders. He later joined BOAC (the forerunner of BRITISH AIRWAYS) as one of
their chief navigation training officers.
Horology was always on Frank’s mind and
following his retirement from aviation he was able to return to his previously chosen
path. Realising that he was a little rusty, he enrolled on the newly formed Clock
Restoration course at West Dean where he quickly made an impression on the principal and
the advisory committee who, after the departure of the original tutor, persuaded Frank to
take it over. This he did in September 1976.
From this time, until just two months before
he died, Frank was unstinting in his loyalty and enthusiasm for the ethos of the West Dean
course and its students, 152 of whom have benefited from his patience. logic and manual
and theoretical skills.
During this period he also spent several
years with the BHI’s education committee; mostly contributing to examination
questions and procedures.
He will be greatly missed by all who had any
contact with him and my deepest sympathies go out to his widow Rosemary and his family.
Roger Still FBHI
Frank Smith at the bench. West Dean College
