William Smithson ‘Bill’

Peacefully surrounded by his family on 28th November 2025, Bill aged 99 years of Clitheroe and formerly of Great Harwood, Rishton and Accrington. The devoted husband of the late Marjorie, loving and loved dad of Tony and late Martin, dear father-in-law of Su and Cathy, cherished grandad of Warren, Aiden, Nicola and Jerica and a loved great-grandad and a dear relative and friend to many.

A true gentleman in every sense of the word, Bill was loved by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. He was kind and generous, always going out of his way to help others. Fun-loving and full of life, he made the most of each day. He had a wonderful sense of humour and an incredible ability to make people smile.

Bill’s working life began at the age of 14 as an apprentice painter and decorator before moving to Allspeeds, where he trained and worked as an engineer. After meeting the love of his life, Bill became a well-known and much-loved shopkeeper, running the family grocery store on Whalley Road, Accrington. He loved the steady footfall of customers coming through the door and always greeted them with a smile. If he knew a family was struggling, he would quietly give them a little extra, free of charge.

A talented artist, Bill could often be found with pencils and paints at the ready, creating his latest masterpiece, and his work was proudly displayed in many exhibitions over the years. He loved watching sport on TV and always looked forward to a Steven Seagal film—he had seen them all many times over and even fancied himself taking a place on screen one day. Lovingly known as “Dapper Bill,” he took great pride in his appearance and was never seen without his shirt and tie. Always groomed to perfection, he was polite, courteous and never swore.

Bill loved to travel and over the years enjoyed many wonderful holidays, exploring the world. Following the sad loss of his beloved wife Marjorie, he continued to travel and enjoyed some amazing cruises with his many companions.

Above all, Bill was the most loving and loyal family man. He always looked forward to family gatherings and was immensely proud of all his family’s achievements in life. He put his long life down to luck.Especially after nearly drowning in the canal at Rishton when he was ten.Then overturning a jeep during the war and finally surviving heart surgery in 2012.

During the final weeks of his life, Bill was lovingly cared for by the wonderful team at Hope House, Clayton-le-Moors.

Family flowers only please, donations are being gratefully received in Bill’s memory on bejalf of British Heart Foundation.