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UNSUNG HERO: Dave Smith with the Terry Collin Trophy in 2005

TRIBUTES have been paid to a well-respected sport stalwart in Lyme Regis and Charmouth, who has died after an accident.

Dave Smith, 67, will be best remembered for his dedication to Charmouth Football Club and to the Lyme Regis and District Skittles League.

He died in hospital on Sunday, four days after his car ploughed into the river wall at Mill Green, Lyme Regis, and burst into flames.

It was the first time Mr Smith, of Hill Road, had got behind the wheel of his specially-adapted white Peugeot 106 after having a prosthetic leg fitted last year due to diabetes.

The accident happened around 7.30pm last Wednesday when Mr Smith lost control of his car down Hill Road, and had to be pulled from his vehicle by Angel Inn landlord Mark Wheeler and passers-by.

Mr Smith was taken to hospital in Dorchester, and despite regaining consciousness, died on Sunday evening.

Charmouth-born Mr Smith was the son of the late Burt Smith, chairman of the parish council, and attended Lyme Regis Grammar School.

A keen Manchester United supporter, he lived in Charmouth for most of his life. He was Charmouth Football Club's secretary and treasurer for 22 years.

The blazing car at the bottom of Hill Road, Lyme Regis, which Mr Smith was pulled from before it burst into flames

Colin Bowditch, president of the club and one of Mr Smith's childhood friends, said he would be sorely missed.

He added: "He was an easy person to get on with and nothing was too much for him. He supported the team by watching each Saturday and even played for several seasons, helping to create a record win of 32-0 when he scored three goals.

"He was held in high esteem by a lot of people."

After moving to Lyme Regis, Mr Smith served on the Lyme Regis and District Skittle's League's general committee for five years, and has been the organising secretary ever since.

He also served as treasurer of the Lyme Regis Darts League.

It was his selfless dedication to local sport that won him The Terry Collin Trophy in 2005, an award for unsung sporting heroes in memory of the former Bridport and Lyme Regis News sports editor.

Well known as an ace barman, working in the old Coach and Horses in Charmouth and at the Royal Standard in Lyme Regis, Mr Smith also worked behind the bar at the Woodmead Halls, where he has also been bookings secretary since 2006.

Stan Williams, chairman of the Woodmead Halls management committee, said he will be a 'serious loss to the town'. "The committee is devastated. He and his wife worked exceptionally hard for us and it will be a very considerable loss, not just for us but for many organisations in Lyme.

"They have both gone through a very difficult time and he had just started to recover and was really getting excited he was able to get out in his car."

Mr Smith leaves a wife Pat, daughter Jen, and grandchildren Emma-Louise and Thomas. A thanksgiving service will take place at St Andrew's Church, Charmouth, on Friday, May 23 at 2.30pm. No flowers - donations for Diabetes UK can be sent to AJ Wakely & Sons in Lyme.

1:58pm Thursday 15th May 2008

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