Dave’s Story
Keith always said that I wasn’t too bad for a Southerner which I have said before was quite the compliment from him.
I moved to Doncaster 30 years ago and Keith & Sandra welcomed me into the family without hesitation and they put up with me (as did Kirsty & Nade) for a number of weeks before I found a house to rent.
Tea would be ready when I got in from work and I was always in awe of Keith’s enormous plate (well serving platter) but then shell shocked by the shear amount gravy-I am a southerner after all! Keith would always say that he could eat a scabby bull!! He was always first to the buffet.
As I settled in t’north, Keith would often take me to the snooker club in Wath and translate as I often didn’t have a clue on what was being said- I still don’t-Coil oil/throight and other words that were confusing to me.
A highlight would be Keith leading Ciss,Sandra’s Dad, to the snooker table as he was allegedly partially-sighted, gingerly walking past people, chairs, pints on tables and then banging in a break of 60 before being lead back to sit down. Not sure if I was watching some bizarre snooker hustle going on.
I’d never met a miner before and the stories that Keith would tell could have you in stitches- I just can’t tell you any of them here for a few reasons
- I don’t know if any of his colleagues mentioned are here
- My accent wouldn’t do the tales justice
- Some are a little close to the knuckle but hilarious-Ask me later!
Growing up in the South during the strikes and then living within the ex mining community has really showed me how different reported life and real life could be.
You’ll all probably be aware that Keith is now forever immortalized in bronze within the Doncaster Miners statue in the town centre – a copy of which Kirsty carried in. Talking to Keith about his days as a Miner was always double sided, dark, dusty and dangerous something he wouldn’t wish on anyone. But when he spoke of his days he lit up full of pride- I think all 4 grandkids have been down to the coal face with Keith at the Mining Museum-think he felt he could run the tour better than the guides- he probably could to be fair.
I’ll miss his phone calls “Keith it’s Dave” -thought I was Dave
We’ll miss having to check if a restaurant served Keith Smiths before booking or face the “Bloody Hell” conversation. Although he developed a liking for Mojito’s served at the pool bar in Portugal -not the drink I’d expect of a Yorkshire Miner.
Keith was fairly unique in a lot of ways – for example I’ve never met anyone with an Ice Cream Van on speed dial for when the grandkids or anyone to be fair fancied one.
Although its hard that Keith has left us so suddenly, I take massive comfort and I think we all do that on his last evening he went out for tea with all of his grandchildren-he had Chicken Fajitas and few pints (Keiths of course)-possibly perfect?
So, we will all be raising a pint of Keith Smith’s later-even Leah Issy and Anabelle- although I haven’t checked the pub sells it- we’ll probably have a Jagerbomb as well as he seemed to quite like them as well!!
Leah’s Story
“So where to start when talking about my grandad. Well this is from your favourite granddaughter, which you let slip at my 21st birthday.
Most of you won’t know but grandad spent his last night surrounded by all of his grandchildren eating fajitas, drinking Keith smiths and reminiscing. Not a bad way to go really. We were talking about how we all used to squeeze into nanna and grandad’s rooms. Me Annabel Issy and nanna in one room and then Callum and grandad in the other. How we used to have pillow fights in the morning while grandad would tuck into his cornflakes. How we all used to go on day trips in the Zafira and me and Callum would sit in the little back seats) coz we’re the oldest) and wave at everyone down the motorway. Grandad laughed along when we went back and forth on story’s, especially how many times we had to watch Barney and Stuart little (cheers Callum). It was such a lovely night. I dropped him off on Friday night and he told me to get back into the car and I walked him to the door. He asked me what I was doing? And I said, ‘I’m making sure you get in!’ He opened the door and said, ‘I’m in now you can go!’ Typical grandad.
Some of my fondest memories of grandad from when I was little was his famous saying ‘give it to dustbin’ whenever we didn’t finish a meal. His Donald Duck and his Elvis impression. Speaking of Elvis, as a family we love a bit of karaoke, me and issy would sing our ‘rap songs’ as grandad called them even though it was a favourite song from the Hamilton musical. He always got up to sing his Elvis classics and took it so seriously. We loved him for it.
Grandad was really one of a kind, he made me proud to come from Doncaster even though I live in scab land now, as a proud Doncaster miner, we loved hearing all of his stories. His mining memories live on in the Doncaster town centre sculpture, that will stay there forever. He was hard working man and it showed. His humour similar to mine and always laughed at my jokes (thanks for the ego boost)
I’ll always remember one saying which grandad told me whenever I spoke about work. ‘If you enjoy what you do you’ll never work a day in your life’ he was so proud of each and everyone of us and we will strive to make him even prouder in the future.
Thanks for everything grandad.”
Keith’s Story
As you’ve heard from Dave and Leah. Keith was a very proud Yorkshire miner. He would tell his stories to anyone and everyone. He used to go into schools and tell the kids what it was like. Although sometimes he got carried away and told them stuff the teachers probably wished he hadn’t. I will now read you a little bit of his time as a miner, and the reason for the bust, in Keith’s own words,
‘I left school at 15 in July and signed on at Brodsworth Colliery in the September of that year (1959). Apart from a year at Eggborough power station I stayed there till it closed in 1990. This figure of my head is a result of me taking part in a campaign for a statue to commemorate our long-gone heritage in Doncaster to mining. The head is part of the now statue in Doncaster’.
He was a coal miner through and through, and as much, it was no surprise that when Thatcher died, he sang ‘Ding Dong the Witch is dead’ and told people he’d done a jig on her grave.
When he left the pit Keith and Sandra ran a newsagent for 4 years, before becoming a forklift truck instructor. He loved this job, starting at Wincanton, before doing it self-employed until he retired in 2010.
During Keith’s life he’s had many hobbies to keep himself entertained away from the pit. He wasn’t so good at DIY. Although he was very proud of his decking and the laminate flooring from the living came in handy when putting a new floor in the shed. Never one to waste anything his shed was full of old bits of wood, jars full of screws, basically anything, as it might come in handy at some point. Keith and Sandra used to play badminton regularly at Adwick Leisure Centre. Which Sandra really enjoyed as she got to play with 3 men. They went crown green bowling together for 7 years. Playing at the club in Brodsworth. They also joined a walking club. Everywhere they went he would wear his leather hat he got from Mexico. Although he only realised it had holes in it when it rained on one trip, and he rain dribbling all down his face.
Mexico was one of the numerous holidays they went on. They went all over the world, America, Maldives, Hawaii, cruises in the med and Caribbean. But his favourite place was Portugal. They would go to Quinta Del Lago and stop in a Nadine and Kelv’s apartment. He loved being in the sun and would cherish every minute he could.
It was on holiday where Keith fell in love with agapanthus plants. Making sure that everyone in the family had one. No one dare say no to him, and I believe that the majority of them are still alive? He enjoyed his garden too. His lawn, and particularly the edges, were cut to within an inch of their lives.
As you’ve heard already Keith loved his food. He was a man of tradition too. He would always have cornflakes at 6:30. Boiled eggs at 10:30. Then a cheese sandwich and a kit kat for dinner. This started during his time as a miner and stook with him to the end. Which, to be honest, he’ll be gutted he’s gone first. He would always be asking Sandra how to make her famous Yorkshire puddings, just so he could still make them when she’d gone. He also had a plan to order Wiltshire Farm Foods meal deliveries after he had said goodbye to her.
But he loved his grandkids with all his heart. So, it was probably perfect the way it ended. Spending his final moments with all of them, together, eating his favourite meal, and drinking his favourite drink. I doubt there’s a better way to go.
Funeral Service was conducted at Rose Hill Crematorium at 10:20am on 25th March 2024.
Chris Platts - Professional Celebrant 