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In 1954 Alan Huw Smith joined his brother Brian at Abingdon School. Alan became a boarder aged 16 when his father left AERE Harwell and moved overseas to Iran for a new job in 1958. Alan was a bright pupil but not a natural athlete. He achieved distinction by being awarded a medal for “Best Beginner” at cricket three years in a row before he was rumbled! He was offered an Exhibition at Pembroke College, Oxford to study English if he agreed to come back in a year with O level Latin but instead chose to go straight to Trinity College Dublin to read Politics and Economics. Alan edited the college magazine and was filing copy for various papers, so when he graduated he was able to go straight to the Oxford Mail as Leader writer, Education Correspondent and reporter.
After four years Alan moved to London to write for the Guardian becoming the youngest Feature writer, subsequently a specialist writer on Irish Affairs, later Night News Editor.
Soon after, Alan met and married Alessandra; a few years later they moved to her home city, Johannesburg, for the birth of their first child, Emily, in 1979, then in 1983 Sophie, a second daughter was born.
The apartheid government would not allow him to continue journalism. So he wrote “The Brenthurst Gardens”, a book on a well-known South African garden belonging to the Oppenheimer family; he was publications consultant to the University of Witwaterstrand, the Drum Magazine & he devised & conducted intensive short courses for young black journalists funded by the Ford Foundation, USA & the South African Leadership Exchange (USSALEP).
After the marriage ended, he returned to England, where a few years later he met and married Dee, a television producer. They settled in London, and soon after had their daughter, Lucy. Alan subsequently joined Grandfield, a city and corporate PR firm. His final career move was to Amersham International as Head of Corporate Affairs.
After his retirement, with his astute mind he successfully managed various legal issues involving his local neighbourhood and could well have had a career in the legal profession.
Alan died at home on 13th August 2025, cared for lovingly by Dee and Lucy.
