Bury St Edmunds music teacher Lawford Smith to be remembered at the United Reformed Church in Whiting Street

A former music teacher, remembered as a gentleman, with ‘impeccable taste in bow ties’, will be celebrated at a special memorial service.

Lawford Smith, began teaching at the Silver Jubilee School for Boys in 1960 after moving from Yorkshire to Bury St Edmunds with his family, to take up the post.

He then went on to work at Westley Middle School where he remained passionate about writing and directing musicals, including The Wizard of Oz.

Mr Smith died in August at the age of 94, choosing to live in Bedford with family for his final weeks.

As well as his work as a teacher, he was deeply involved with the theatre scene, orchestras and performing arts groups. He was also a proud Scout leader.

His daughters Amanda and Sally said: “He will be remembered by colleagues and students alike as a passionate teacher who believed in inspiring, encouraging and sometimes challenging students to be the best they could possibly be.”

They continued: “He will always be remembered for his outstanding teaching career and many contributions he made in the musical life of the communities in which he lived.”

Mr Smith was a strong supporter of the Theatre Royal and was involved in the campaign to transform it from a Greene King barrel store – back to a working theatre.

Amanda said her father was ‘thrilled’ in 2015, when he was interviewed for A Labour of Love, a musical written about campaign.

He met the cast member playing him and proudly went to the performances of the show at the Theatre Royal.

A spokeswoman for the theatre said: “Everyone at Theatre Royal owes a huge debt of gratitude to the dedicated group of supporters during the early 1960’s who fundraised to restore the theatre from a barrel store to the fully working theatre that we love and cherish today.

“Lawford Smith would have been in good company with famous cultural figures such as Benjamin Britten lending their support.”

His family paid tribute to Mr Smith describing him as a ‘loyal and devoted husband to Pam’ who died, following a long illness, in 2006.

The couple were married for 55 years after meeting at a college dance and went on to have three children Amanda, Sally and Rowland.

Mr Smith was a much loved grandfather of: Sam, Alex, Freya, Sophie, Grace, Patrick, Adam, Ani Sherab, Jack, Rebecca, Eleanor and Harry, and great-grandfather of: Maddison, Harry, Adeleine, Archie, Freddie, James, Darcy and Elsie.

The service to celebrate Lawford Smith’s life will be held on Monday, October 16, at the United Reformed Church in Whiting Street – starting at 2pm.

Donations in his memory would be gratefully received by the United Reformed Church.