'Absolute titan' of politics in Plymouth passes away
Tributes have been paid to former Plymouth Labour councillor of three decades Honorary Alderman Peter Smith described this week as “an absolute titan” of politics in the city. Born and raised in Honicknowle,. . .
Tributes have been paid to former Plymouth Labour councillor of three decades Honorary Alderman Peter Smith described this week as “an absolute titan” of politics in the city. Born and raised in Honicknowle, Alderman Smith’s dedicated public service, calm manner, passion for Plymouth and sharp political wit have all been praised by leading political figures who have expressed sadness at his passing on Monday, July 6. He began his career as a blacksmith in the dockyard at the age of 15 before becoming a full-time representative for the GMB trade union, where he served as craft convenor forDevonportManagement Limited and later Babcock. His commitment to serving local communities led him into local government. He first served as a county councillor forPlymptonSt Mary in the early 1990s before becoming a city councillor in 1995. He went on to represent Honicknowle Ward serving Plymouth as a city councillor until his retirement in 2021 and could list deputy leader among his many senior leadership roles. A lifelong supporter of Plymouth Argyle and sports fan, Alderman Smith played a leading role in the creation of the Manadon Sports Hub, championed the development of Plymouth's first Ports Strategy and, as the council's lead for events, oversaw the creation of the events field at Central Park. He was also a longstanding supporter of the Plymouth Half Marathon and 10K events. Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Cllr Kevin Sproston (Lab, Budshead), said: "Plymouth has lost a devoted public servant and a proud son of the city. Pete dedicated decades of his life to supporting local people, both through his trade union work and his service as a councillor. "He was respected across the political spectrum for his calm manner, integrity and unwavering commitment to Plymouth. On behalf of the city, I extend my deepest sympathies to Pete's family, friends and former colleagues at this very sad time. "Plymouth City Councilleader Tudor Evans (Lab, Ham) said: "Pete was the voice of reason in our group; it seemed almost impossible to rile him. Many's the time he and the Chief Whip, the late Eddie Rennie, quietly solved problems before they even became problems. "He was a hugely kind and funny man, devoted to his family and a great representative of this city. He cared deeply about Plymouth and leaves behind a remarkable legacy, from helping develop our sporting facilities and events programme to championing the dockyard workforce and local communities he loved so much. "I'm so pleased that his voice lives on in The Box, where visitors can hear him reflect on the role the dockyard played during the Falklands conflict – just one of the many legacies he leaves to Plymouth. We will all miss him dreadfully. Rest in peace, Pete. "Plymouth Sutton and Devonport Labour MP Luke Pollard said the Plymouth champion “worked tirelessly to lift up our communities”. “Pete always fought for fairness, public services, and the people he represented. Becoming an Alderman is a rare honour reserved for those who have given truly exceptional service to our city, and nobody deserved that title more than Pete. “He was a mentor to many, a loyal friend to the Labour movement, and a fierce advocate for Plymouth. I first got to know Pete closely when I stood as a candidate for the first time in South West Devon back in 2010. I will always fondly remember Pete driving around the constituency with a loudspeaker rigged up to his car, passionately encouraging people to vote Labour. Even after stepping back from the front lines of local government, his passion for Plymouth and his sharp political wit never faded. ”Mr Pollard said Alderman Smith was “instrumental” in bringing live music to the Hoe, leading the bids for some of the biggest music festivals Plymouth had had. “Pete was undeniably one of the biggest Plymouth Argyle fans going too. A proper Janner. “Plymouth has lost one of its finest public servants, and he will be profoundly missed. My thoughts, deepest condolences, and love are with his family, friends, and everyone who had the privilege of working alongside him. Thank you for everything, Pete. Rest in peace. ”The funeral of Alderman Peter Smith will take place at 1pm on Wednesday July 22 at Plymouth Crematorium at The Park in Merafield Road, Plympton. Plymouth City Council has extended its sincere condolences to his family and friends. Scores of people who have commented on social media posts referred to the former councillor as “a true gentlemen” and “champion of the city” whose “unstinting service for Honicknowle residents has left a lasting legacy”. “So sorry to hear this. What a lovely man Pete was. Funny, gentle, thoughtful and truly caring about making the lives of people better,” said one. “RIP Pete. An excellent local councillor and a genuinely nice man who will be missed,” said another.