Wally Smith

[Turbo Badger]

Thank you Wally for the start you gave me in my career. Never a preacher, but a true teacher, I wish I could say something more meaningful,apart from, you were an inspiration to me as a young man. Thank you for guiding me down a path that ultimately led me to becoming an Arb AC & more recently an Assessor for the Arb AC scheme. I can genuinely say, that If I hadn't trained and learnt with you, I probably wouldn't have ended up doing either. Thank you so much.

Thinking of you and Sylvia- take care my friend.

Reg Harris

[Varney]

Wally - Your a gentleman, a fountain of knowledge & an all round legend! If there is any thing i can do just let Andy know! Take care, Reg@Greens

[leswold]

Wally, we don't know each other but from what others have said, its my loss. I've known others like you & its been a real pleasure. Regards & respect, Les.

[bob]

Did anyone else do the golf ball catching on the shovel? With wally

[Steve Bullman]

Nope! tell us more?

[bob]

You had to lean on shovel throw golf ball in air the catch golf ball on shovel obviously damping the impact

Always amazed me how he could do it every time

Maybe it was a council thingy leaning on shovels?

[Andy Gentle]

Bob you'll remember jumping the broom handle then?

[bob]

I remember wally jumping the broom handle but not me

Never been that energetic

He could always throw a bundle of rope over limbs we could not even hit and the rope always unraveled and was just ready to clip on.

Such a good consistent guy

Never really saw him use throwlines I don't think but bet he was good with them.

He mainly trained us before throwlines were invented

Now I do feel old

3 strand ruled

[David Humphries]

Was always impressed with Walters forced robotic snedding style, he would look like the saw was part of his arm whilst moving along a felled trunk removing branches like he was doing tai chi. Great teaching style.

 

Stuck in my mind each and very time I picked up a saw, (well, in the early days before bad habits set in )

 

Have always regretted (though probably wasn't actually ready at the time) not jumping on board his invite to our team to join in with his contract crew to help with managing Eco protestors at sensitive constructions works. Would have been an eye opener.

 

He used to throw in forestry circus tricks like trying to pick up a back handled 020 straight off the ground holding just the very back of the handle and keeping it level whilst elevating.

 

Legend !

 

 

.

[Andy Gentle]

With a heavy heart I write this post. Wal passed away this evening after fighting very bravely for the last two weeks.

Thank you all for your messages, he enjoyed reading them and they bought a smile to his face.

His passing in the end was a release from his suffering and his battle to live.

He will be greatly missed.

R.I.P Wal