MAUREEN ELLEN SMITH

Older members of Bridgwater & Albion Rugby Football Club and indeed younger members who have been attached to the Dirtrackers team over many years will have been saddened by the news of Maureen Smith’s death on 3 November at the age of 85. Maureen had been hospitalised at the beginning of the year but was making a good recovery but she passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday morning.

The club acknowledges some debt of gratitude to Maureen for her connections over many years. In her earlier days she was a member of the Ladies Committee which was a hard-working and very supportive band supplying the comfortable touches which all clubs need. Her marriage to John (Jack) Ivor Smith in the 1960’s indirectly brought her into more of club life as Jack was initially a stalwart player and of course magnificently ran the Dirtrackers (3rd XV – Athletic VX) for many years until his death in December 2016. As a result, scores of young and some older Albion players either directly came into contact with her or were certainly aware of her presence behind the great man. As a result, Maureen did not need to come to the club – she was known and all players were aware that she was in the background supporting her husband’s passion. Several former players have kept in touch with her over the last few years and she was always enquiring of the club’s fortunes.

In her own right, Maureen initially worked for local accountants Butterworth Jones but then embarked on a long career with Bridgwater Town Council (later Sedgemoor DC) until she took early retirement. As well as her rugby football club attachment, she was a firstly chorus and then administrative member of the Bridgwater Operatic Society; in her later life she took up indoor bowls at the North Petherton Bowling Club; she also maintained her fitness with gym sessions at the Brainwave facilities at the end of her beloved Taunton Road. She and Jack lived at 211 Taunton Road since their marriage – a span of almost 60 years. She was also an active member of the North Petherton Probus Club and enjoyed regular meetings and outings

Maureen is survived by her brother Allan Titmuss who has lived in the London area for many years after schooling in Bridgwater.

The club extends its sincere condolences to Allan and all of Maureen’s friends and neighbours who have particularly been extremely supportive in her times of need and whose efforts have been much appreciated by her.

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