Bristol's 'Mr Arnos Vale' dies

Bristol has lost one of its most determined voices – the man who led the battle to save the historic Arnos Vale Cemetery has died.

News of the death of Richard Smith MBE, after a three- year battle against cancer, has led to tributes from across the city – from fellow campaigners to the Lord Mayor, who described his loss as "a very sad day for Bristol".

To walk through the peaceful shadows of Arnos Vale Cemetery today, it's hard to imagine the beautiful Victorian place of rest could ever have been under threat of destruction.

But back in the 1980s, that's exactly the situation that faced Mr Smith and his wife Joyce – who also received the MBE in recognition of her work to save the cemetery.

Both Mr and Mrs Smith had family members buried in the cemetery when, in 1987, the then owner of the land Tony Towner and his Bristol General Cemetery Company revealed plans to exhume graves and build houses on the site.

The Downend couple were central to the formation of the Friends of Arnos Vale Cemetery (FAVC), and worked to set up the Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust which was later to be instrumental in lobbying Bristol City Council to buy the cemetery.

Mr Smith was also one of the main driving forces behind the bid, which in December 2005, saw the cemetery awarded a £4.8 million Heritage Lottery Fund grant for restoration work.

Mr Smith passed away on Thursday, just a few months before the completion of the landmark restoration project, to which he devoted two decades of his life.

Mike Orr, a town planning consultant who became a trustee of Arnos Vale, said he "can't praise Richard Smith enough for his sheer dedication to the cause".

"He was a visionary," he said. "And he wouldn't take no for an answer.

"Richard was intelligent, diplomatic, and exactly the kind of individual you need to front a campaign as difficult as saving Arnos Vale.

"Without taking anything away from anyone else, I'm certain that without the work Richard put in, the cemetery may not be there today."

The 64-year-old, who was diagnosed with colon cancer three years ago, only stepped down from his Arnos Vale activities in May.

Mr Smith's family is now planning the funeral, but Mr Smith's widow Joyce said because of the ongoing building work, the funeral will not be able to take place at Arnos Vale.

"There is so much work going on in the Anglican chapel, that it just won't be possible," Mrs Smith said.

Mrs Smith said she was proud of the work her husband devoted to saving the cemetery over 20 years.

"There were times when we wondered if we would ever be successful," she said. "But we got there in the end, and Richard was very proud to see the progress being made over the past few years.

"When this all started, my father had recently been buried there. So it was very important for us to protect the cemetery.

"My mother initially volunteered me on to the committee for the Friends of Arnos Vale, and I later volunteered Richard. It snowballed from there.

"Richard was an engineer by trade, so had no experience of this kind of campaigning. He was a very private man, but we felt very strongly that something should be done.

"He was very surprised to get the MBE, and very proud. Then when I also was given an MBE a couple of years later, we were both even more astonished – but again, very proud to be given that kind of recognition."

Mr Orr said the battle the Smiths and the rest of the trust took on was never going to be easy.

"English law doesn't easily allow compulsory purchase orders – this was a battle that went all the way to the High Court," he explained

"Richard was the man who had the grit and steel to lead such a campaign. He was instrumental in getting the council to back the scheme and to take compulsory purchase of the site. He will leave a massive legacy to the city."

Bristol-based TV personality and patron of the trust, Chris Serle said he was "absolutely devastated" to hear the news of Mr Smith's death.

"I was approached by Richard early on to act as patron, and I was more than happy to support the project," he said.

"He was full of passion for cause. Since his retirement, he's dedicated his life to saving the cemetery. It's sad he won't be around for the grand reopening of the restored cemetery. But it's a comfort to know Richard was proud of what they had achieved."

Councillor Gary Hopkins, cabinet member for environment and community safety, said: "Richard and all the people he helped to bring together did a great service to Bristol.

"Arnos Vale is important for its historical significance and for all the personal connections that many people in Bristol have because their relatives are buried there.

"It is also an important natural resource for wildlife and people enjoying quiet walks.

"Richard deserves huge credit for his persistence and the patient way that he pulled everything together."

Councillor Chris Davies, Lord Mayor of Bristol, stood with Mr Smith in May, as they rang the bell of the Anglican Chapel to mark its return to the restored cupola on top of the building, and was with him just a week ago when they checked out the progress at the cemetery.

"I was very saddened to hear the news, it's a very sad day for Bristol," he said. "I admired Richard's hard work, from the early days of his campaigning for the protection of the cemetery, which is in Knowle where I live, and where most of my own, and my wife's, family are buried.

"When I became a city councillor I joined the trustees of the cemetery, and became friends with Richard and his wife, and a great admirer of them and their achievements.

"He will be sadly missed, but he will always be remembered with much gratitude by the people of Bristol, and generations to come, who will enjoy this historic and beautiful open space in the middle of their city. My sincere condolences go to the family at this sad time."

Mr Smith's funeral will take place on Friday, July 17, at Canford Crematorium at 1pm.

Tributes to Mr Smith can be left at the Lasting Tribute website.