Dedicated to Christopher Shane Ralph-Smith

I’d like to dedicate this month’s newsletter to my father Christopher Shane Ralph-Smith, who sadly passed away on the 22nd February 2021, at the age of 76. Without realising it until later in life he was a huge inspiration in everything that I have personally achieved, and never judgemental when I completely messed things up.

He was in my eyes an amazing innovator; creating some incredible buildings and sail boats, a painter of many stunning works, and a sculptor of a great number of wooden carvings such as ‘Plonker Men’. I’ll let you use your imagination on the latter. He was unbelievable at solving a practical design problem, it was always resolved and often made better in the process.

We all sadly said goodbye on the 23rd March 2021. The small town of Southwell in Nottinghamshire lined the streets, outside the pub of course, as that’s where he gained his acclaim and told all his stories, along with all the other pubs in the Nottingham area over the years. Utterly charming, charismatic, and probably one of the most entertaining people to ever sit in a bar with and have a drink, I’ll miss those times.

A lover of life and people is, I’m sure, how he’ll be remembered, along with the well spoken booming voice. It has been an honour and a pleasure to have had you as my father, with a broken heart but many happy memories, all the family and your friends wish you peaceful thoughts and a bright future, on whatever you may turn your hand to next.

Love Jason x