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9 Jul 2019, 13:35 (Ref:3916694) | #26 | |
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Claire, I'm very sorry I couldn't attend today, as I had hoped to. I'm sure you will all give John a very fitting send off. Best, Cliff
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9 Jul 2019, 15:00 (Ref:3916702) | #27 | ||
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Long trip for me but I had to go .John was such a great bloke . Well done Claire lovely poem .Good to catch up with Uncle Eric and Tim . It was a lovely send off.
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9 Jul 2019, 18:34 (Ref:3916724) | #28 | ||
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It was a lovely do and well done to Claire for all her hard work and especially the poem.
Likewise nice to catch up with you Iain. |
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9 Jul 2019, 18:50 (Ref:3916726) | #29 | ||
The Honourable Mallett
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I'm glad he had a good send off. Also good to know some of his mates made it. He leaves a legacy of reason and rules.
We listened to Radio Le Mans at Le Mans and Hindy gave an emotional speech about John. Very moving. Even more so because we knew him well. RIP John. |
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9 Jul 2019, 22:39 (Ref:3916758) | #30 | ||
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Thank you all for your kind words
I will post the poem in due time The vid is up on john and my timelines on FB, I will sort out a formal link to it etc and post here Im laying in bed in a hotel in kent.... not drunk in truth.... but tired Thanks again all |
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Martin Smith Clerk of the Course, 3 times Race of Remembrance class Winner Organising Committee and regs writer of ROR, Chair and owner of 360 Motor Racing Club |
9 Jul 2019, 22:42 (Ref:3916759) | #31 | |||
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Quote:
I must confess, that I spoke to hindy before that .... I dont know how he did it... but it was also made very hard for him.... as he lost his own father and that was also in the eoll call he did .... x |
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Martin Smith Clerk of the Course, 3 times Race of Remembrance class Winner Organising Committee and regs writer of ROR, Chair and owner of 360 Motor Racing Club |
10 Jul 2019, 08:38 (Ref:3916796) | #32 | ||
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Yes, it was a very emotional roll call this year.
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I've decided to stop reaching out to people. I'm just going to contact them instead. |
10 Jul 2019, 23:09 (Ref:3916929) | #33 | ||
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Ok, final goodbye, this is the poem that I read yesterday for John Smith
A lot asked me to post it (Tim Falce, Delta etc )... so here it is Dear John……What can I say about you Where do I begin John Smith? People here have heard lots of stories Some of em true and some of em myth But how do I begin to explain And where should I start How do I tell you how I feel And how you passing has broken my heart I could start with your kindness And the principles you kept Like if I went to leave the table Up to your feet you leapt Opening doors and when we walked along the road To the outside of the pavement you went Yes one thing that could be said about you Is that you were without doubt a true gent I could talk about your stories And my god there were a few but the one that always comes to mind Involves a certain driver and you I refer of course to Mr Jackie Oliver Not really your number one fan When you summoned him to race control He said, “Do you people know who I am?” “Jackie” you said now don’t be mad This will only take a second or two He said, “I only let my friends call me Jackie So Its Mr Oliver to you! The thing that’s funny about that And I swear this is true what I tell Is that you dined out on that story so many times John Smith But I know Jackie Oliver did as well For years latter when I met the chairman and co Of the Freshingham Oily Rags Club (that’s FORC) They told me how he told them that same story When they invited him to give a talk I could talk about what you did for me personally And the sacrifice you made Your clerking career and your reputation in Motorsport On the line for me you laid But once again it was your principles And you stood by what you believed And I (as well as others) cannot thank you enough For what we ALL achieved I could mention Donington Grande Passion You tearing out your hair As we waited for the track licence to be issued With only hours to spare Masters Racing Club went from strength to strength then And a lot of that was down to you Cause the drivers loved that you were “their Clerk” And you always knew what to do You clerked all around this country Too many circuits to name But for Masters’ you and I clerked all round Europe France Belgium Portugal and Spain You were not only an International Clerk But MSA Steward as well And I remember you talking about kids Karting And meeting several parents from hell But you took it all in your stride And not a fuss you’d make And we knew how to get round you in race control We’d just ply you with plenty of cake There was one race control however For your career too far off your path I refer to Le Mans of course And Race Control at Circuit De La Sarthe You said to me once down there That though you loved to go It was like looking at someone else’s party From outside their front room window I made a promise to you that year And it was a big one to be fair Cause I point up to race control And said “one day … John Smith….I will take you in there!” When I think of Race control I can remember Standing outside Silverstone “Ivory Tower” And you saying to me you should read a thread on TenTenths Its about an alternative six hour Yes 360 became my vision, but that race was very much your dream And I remember standing on the grid that day with you and only 8 And you still grinning like a cat with the cream And not many know this next bit John What I’m about to say It was a conversation just between us Towards the end of that very long day Yes we’d just finished dinner all of us And I used to smoke back then So you and I both went outside for a quick crafty cig And all of a sudden that’s when We both turned to each other And as it was choreographed Said “I dunno about you but that’s the best ten grand I’ve ever spent And just looked at each other and laughed Again you delivered what you promised though You could hold your head up high No one could say you didn’t give it a go And that we didn’t try And I’d prefer to remember good times like that Than the nightmare at the Nurburgring Yes my quick actions and speed saved your life But those medics their praises I’ll always sing I hated leaving you out there after But for work I had to go to New York But I made sure I phoned you every day And every day we’d talk And when they said that you could come home I was out there in a flash to bring you back And then it was down to Carol and I and others To try and get your life back on track We tried to change your way of life But you kinda said, “you must be joking” And even after that life changing stroke You still continued smoking Yes you battled on still stubborn And very much set in your ways No one was going to tell you what to do Especially now in your later days I took you back to Le Mans one last time But it was really a trip too far For you was not a mobile then as you once was So we spent most of it just listening in the car But I kept my promise, to you John Smith I made a call to a friend we both knew And I did take you up to that race control I DID make your dream come true I could go on for so long But this congregation is probably getting weary And as you can see the more I talk about you The more I’m getting teary So John ..... I’ve got to go now But I will leave you with “our” special quote And if people want to know its meaning They’ll have to buy the book I’ve just wrote Thank you for being part of my life And helping me become who I become It was one hell of a ride my love And a far cry from the rising sun! GOD BLESS YOU JOHN SMITH xxx |
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Martin Smith Clerk of the Course, 3 times Race of Remembrance class Winner Organising Committee and regs writer of ROR, Chair and owner of 360 Motor Racing Club |
11 Jul 2019, 00:13 (Ref:3916936) | #34 | ||
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Thank you Claire
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13 Jul 2019, 20:17 (Ref:3917417) | #35 | ||
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The Film
Hi all
I have received a few requests from people who have not got access to FB asking if there was a way to post the vid here. I have put the vid on the 360 You Tube page now. Some of you will see your posts made up part of the film.. I will state as I do in the titles, this film is not Johns life story ... its a personal tribute to him from me. Enjoy the film... I will update you with the book later Claire x https://youtu.be/N7JO2QFaJtw |
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Martin Smith Clerk of the Course, 3 times Race of Remembrance class Winner Organising Committee and regs writer of ROR, Chair and owner of 360 Motor Racing Club |
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