ARTHUR SMART

Though not a founder member of (Middlesbrough) South Cleveland Probus Club, Arthur was one of its earliest members and served as secretary from 1995 to 1997 and president in 2001-2.

After grammar school in Stockton, Arthur went to Imperial College to study mathematics and stayed at first in the YMCA before moving to lodgings at Riverside Court Methodist Church. This was where, on a church picnic, he first met his future wife, Brenda.

His first job was at Acklam Hall Grammar School in Middlesbrough and he then became head of maths at Wyndham School in Cumbria until in 1970 he returned to Middlesbrough as Maths and post-16 Adviser for Teesside (subsequently Cleveland) LEA. One of his tasks in the latter role was to appoint the current club president to his post as head of sixth form!

Alongside his professional duties Arthur started to referee in rugby union and was a member of the Durham County Referees Society. When he eventually retired from active refereeing he became an adviser and then senior adviser to this society.

Music was always important in his life. For many years he sang bass in the Apollo Male Voice Choir and later he joined the Stockton Male Voice Choir and became their secretary. They amalgamated with Synthonia Male Voice Choir to form Stockton Synthonia MVC and he was one of the key players in enabling this to happen.

He was a life long Methodist and held most jobs in the church, including the senior position of circuit steward. After the death of his wife, he became a volunteer guide at Durham Cathedral.

A man of faith and integrity who will be sadly missed.