Alan Smith – He was my guardian angel... a son’s final farewell to ‘such a sweet man’

Published: 20th May, 2011
by PAVAN AMARA

HUNDREDS of friends and relatives crowded into East Finchley Chapel on Friday to pay their last respects to Alan Smith, a family man who had “love to give everyone, even the fishes” but who was stabbed to death in a café in March.

Mr Smith and his partner Denise lived in Holloway for 30 years before they were forced to move to Leyton in east London due to the soaring cost of property in the borough.

Just 15 months after they moved – in December last year – Mr Smith, 63, was stabbed in front of his partner and daughter-in-law as he sat in a café in Walthamstow. 

On Friday, about 200 people packed the chapel, where Denise comforted distraught sons Dan, 23, and Alex, 20, as the simple service began with Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits, one of Alan’s favourite bands. 

His daughter, Estelle, 41, from a prev­ious marriage, and a granddaughter, Millie, 7, were present.

“My dad was my guardian angel,” Dan told the mourners. “No one can ever look after me like he did. He was my cooker, my driver, my everything, and I will never be able to replace him. 

“He was such a sweet man. When he used to catch fish, he put them back in the water – only after he’d kissed them first though. That’s the kind of man he was. He had love to give everyone, even the fishes.”

When he lived in Holloway Alan worked for the council “on the dust” and as a bus driver. 

A friend, John Smith, who had known Alan for 40 years, recalled his legendary breakfast competitions.

“We used to call him Big Al down at work. The big was for the big heart,” he said.

“Breakfast down the caff was always a laugh with him. We’d eat one breakfast, and then say: ‘Right, you up for ano­ther?’ and we’d try and outdo each other. 

“I just want to add that neither of us was ever sick.”

The service ended with Michael Jackson’s You Are Not Alone. 

Afterwards mourners attended a wake at Fieldway Crescent Central Library in Highbury, where the buffet was provided by Denise’s union Unison, which paid all the funeral expenses. “I want to say thank you to Unison,” Denise said. “Without them I don’t know what I would have done.”

Café murder trial date fixed

THE Old Bailey trial of a man alleged to have knifed Alan Smith will begin before a jury on July 5.

Mr Smith was stabbed at the Roma café in Lea Bridge Road, Walthamstow, on March 21.

He underwent open-heart surgery at the scene and was airlifted to the Royal London Hospital, in Whitechapel, but surgeons were unable to save him.

 Matthew Quesada, 25, denied a murder charge during a brief court appearance.