Obituary: Murray Smith

Optometry Today is sad to report that optometrist, Murray Smith, has died at the age of 96.

Smith trained at Northampton Polytechnic in London before returning to his home city of Leicester to open a practice in Syston, Leicestershire, in the 1950s.

David Hughes, optometrist partner, paid tribute to his colleague, sharing that Smith was: “Proud of his profession’s role in the recently formed National Health Service and became a stalwart of the Local Optical Committee, displaying his common-sense approach to life in all of the offices over many years.”

Smith was also engaged with his local branch of the Association of Optical Practitioners, which benefited from his “wisdom and support,” Hughes said.

In addition to providing eye care services to his community, a role that earned him “much respect,” Smith was a Methodist steward and leader of The Boys’ Brigade.

Hughes shared: “On a personal note, Murray demonstrated that it was still possible to practise in the manner I preferred and generously took me under his wing in partnership until he retired in 1992, enabling me to realise a fulfilling career also.”

Smith’s son, Nigel, reflected that the optometrist was an active supporter of Vision Aid Overseas (which has now become Vision Action).

“I will always remember dad servicing, cataloguing and checking old spectacles ready to be reused. He must have processed hundreds over the years he volunteered with the organisation,” Nigel Smith shared.

Murray Smith leaves behind “his rock of a lifetime,” Eileen, along with his son, Nigel, his daughter, Heather, and his grandchildren.

The funeral will be held on 22 March in the Edgar Newman Chapel of Kettering Crematorium at 2pm.