Brian Smith RIP
Posted on Friday 21 December 2007
A tribute by the Principal to Brian Smith, Guardian of the College Community, who died 12 December 2
Brian Smith, a great man
When you’ve had visitors and they leave your house, they tend to fall into three categories
- there are those who you are rather pleased see the back of;
- those who have been no trouble and have never got in the way – their leaving really makes no difference;
- and those who you are sad to see go because their company has been special.
Insofar as Brian Smith has been a visitor into our many lives, we are not just sad but grief-stricken that he has passed away – and so suddenly. He has left a hole in many hearts.
For Brian was one of those men who made a real difference to our lives. He relished company, he seemed to love people – and in the context of Farnborough Sixth Form College, he knew how to improve our lives – and to improve the achievements of us all.
I have been reading the entries on the Facebook wall started by our current Student President, Mo Saqib:
- one of them simply states – Brian was a legend;
- another says that he will turn down his car radio every time he drives past the College as a mark of respect for Brian;
- and another says that the words – “have you got a permit for that vehicle, young man?” will ring in his ears for ever…
but they are all said with real love and affection for a giant of man.
For Brian commanded respect – he didn’t demand it – he just got it – from us all. And the reason is that we all knew that he was a selfless man – he was there for the community. For Brian, life was not about how much he would get out of a situation – it was always about what could he give in a situation. Brian’s faith was a private thing – he didn’t speak much about his Catholicism and Christianity – he just lived it by his very actions. He would always go the extra mile…
For me, the legend started in his first week when he came to introduce himself – and called me Sir several times in his first greeting. And Matt Smith has written on Facebook of the pride his young two year old daughter felt when, each morning as Matt walked her to the nursery, Brian would boom “Good morning, Sir, Good morning Miss”. A policeman knew her! He was good at sprinkling magic dust on people – making them feel good about themselves.
And then there was the first major inspection of the College, in 1997 the year Brian started – and we all wanted the College to be seen in the best light. There was a team of about a dozen inspectors – who arrived on Monday and were there until Friday. Monday was about feeling the College – Tuesday was a day of full inspection – and Wednesday was essentially about confirming first impressions – the key day. Brian was in the front car park ensuring that the inspectors could park their cars, and showing them all due deference. But one drove into the car park and stood looking in complete despair at his front tyre which was completely flat … how could he sort out his tyre and also conduct the most significant part of his inspection?…
Enter Brian …. You’ve got a problem there, young sir! Don’t you worry – an important man like you has got enough worries without being bothered by a flat tyre. Leave me your keys and I’ll have it sorted by lunch time…
Sure enough, Brian took off the wheel, had it repaired on the College account, and by 11 o’clock it was back on the car, good as new. When the inspector returned at lunch time, there was Brian standing by the car, ready to hand back the keys.
“What do I owe you?”, said the inspector – “You don’t owe me anything, Sir – glad to help you out in your important work!”
The inspectors were full of it – never before had they known anything like it. Brian – single-handedly – had charmed them into submission and the grade 1s gave tumbling out of them like a one-armed bandit! Brian became the talk of the entire further education sector – and Simon Jarvis and I have spoken about him at conferences where we give examples of discretionary effort.
And when he retired in October 2005 – we were all struck by his leaving speech. “When I was a young bobby”, he said, “my sergeant said to me “just remember the three Fs, Smith – Firm, Fair and Friendly”. That’s exactly how he was – and he has left that indelibly stamped on us all – that and two more qualities which society seems to lose sight of sometimes.
Loyalty and Respect. No one was more loyal to the College than Brian – and in return no one was more deeply loved than he. There’s a song: Love is something if you give it away – you end up having more … that sums up Brian.
And respect – well sometimes it was old-fashioned – and often tinged with humour. He was particularly supportive of my two sons who were at the College – perhaps perceiving that at times it might be tough be the principal’s son – can’t think why!
So he would always ask me, “And how’s that young Tom?” after Thomas left the College. And when Thomas worked in the premises team over the summer holidays, Brian asked him one day – “So what do you wear when you go to lectures at that university of yours?”
“Jeans and tee-shirt”, said Thomas.
“Jeans and tee shirt?! I’d expect you to wear a suit and tie! – Show some respect to the professors!”, responded Brian.
So when Thomas asked me what he should wear at the funeral – I said, “Well, funerals these days – it doesn’t really matter, being there is more important”.
And Thomas thought for a minute – and said, “No - Brian would expect me to wear a suit – and so I will”.
Brian’s influence has touched us all. In his own way, his teaching of the students and of us staff, his quiet insistence on the right skills in life, is as important as the academic studies and qualifications of the students.
The College is indeed a lesser place in his absence – but it will remain permanently a better place for having had his legendary and precious presence.
And in memory of his greatness, as a permanent testament to his lasting presence, I am proud to announce that I will endow a Brian Smith Annual Award to a student for loyalty to the College ; and in the New Year, the student car park – a rather unimaginative label if there was one - will bear a new name with pride: the Brian Smith Car Park.
John Guy
21 December 2007
