Obituary: Barry Smith

Haine & Smith opticians has paid tribute to its co-founder, Barry Smith, who died on 13 October at the age of 82 following a short illness.

The practice explained that, as co-founder alongside Sue Haine, Smith “made the business his lifelong labour of love.”

The business began in 1975 with practices in Westbury and Marlborough, and gradually grew to 20 practices in towns throughout Wiltshire, and into Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire.

Smith held the position of a director of the Federation of Dispensing Opticians from 1991 to 2011. He was also a longstanding member of the Marlborough & District Rotary Club.

“Barry was also a well-known and respected Christian,” the practice shared, noting that Smith and his wife, Liz, were devout worshippers at All Saints’ Church Burbage.

Smith was chair of Burbage parochial church council and the Savernake Team for many years. He was also a trustee of the Harnhill Centre of Christian Healing, along with other Christian charities.

Following his retirement in August 2019, the couple moved from Wiltshire to Aberfeldy in Scotland.

Smith was a “keen sportsman,” playing football and table tennis, and later, tennis and badminton. The practice shared: “A keen supporter of Swindon town, Southampton, and St Johnston football clubs, he loved to watch matches at the home grounds.”

Concluding, the practice paid tribute to a “very full life, led by a well-loved gentleman.”