Remembering Nigel Smart - his 78th Birthday at Washford, March 2016

Nigel Smart, whose involvement with the Trust's locomotives and site goes back decades, died on 4 December 2023. The video shows a band playing Happy Birthday to him at Washford for his 78th in 2016.
Nigel - who was a tool maker at Rolls Royce Filton, Bristol - joined the Somerset & Dorset Circle [the forerunner of the present Trust] in 1969/70. He had extensive involvement when the organisation moved to Washford, often spending his holiday time working on-site. He completed three 10-year overhauls of the Trust's Peckett 'Kilmersdon' as well as laying and maintaining the track in the yard.
He was also involved with other steam locomotive owning groups, notably the 5542 group. In June this year he had moved to Bury St. Edmunds to be closer to his sister. At the time of writing, funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.
[Video by Rod Ormston.]

[@AmbroseB1900]

Very sad to hear the news about Nigel. Back in 2000 my wife and I visited Washford and had a good 'S & D' conversation with Nigel and Peter Cattermole; as we turned to leave, Peter had a quick word with Nigel and then called us back and asked if we would like a footplate ride on Kilmersdon as Nigel had to shunt the yard. Of course we said 'Yes' and what an amazing experience that was; at Peter's request, we wrote about it and it was printed in the Pines. A wonderful memory for us and grateful thanks to Nigel.
Our thoughts today are with his family and friends. R.I.P. Nigel. Bob Hylands.