We received the news that Michael George Smith (1953G) had passed away in Johannesburg in on 22 September 2023.  He had moved from Berg 'n See in Hermanus, to Johannesburg where his children lived and it was there that he passed away from the effects of cancer.

His wife, Jill, wrote to tell us:

Michael who was born on 26 November 1935, passed away on 22nd September 2023 and is finally at peace.

David Carter (1958G), President of the ODU, managed to find out a bit more about Mike's time at school from two near contemporaries, Michael Mathews (1951S) and Ian Barron (1952S). 

Michael Mathews remembers Mike as a a very good wing who in his Standard 9 year toured with the 1st XV to Natal as a substitute and finished playing in all the games when Mike Sivetson (1952S) who was the regular winger, injured himself early on. He was also a good athlete probably track. He does recall that Mike Smith went on to play some professional rugby in the UK.

Ian Barron played in the same 1st XV IN 1953 at school.  Years later he bumped into Mike a number of times over a five year period when they were both living at Berg 'n See. 

Our records in the archives show that Mike went on to study engineering at UCT.  Ian recalls that the family was invested in a significant engineering/ industrial company by name of Bestobel (specialists in the distribution of advanced engineering and technological products) with Mike spending time with the company in Singapore before also expanding into Rhodesia and Northern Rhodesia as they were then called.

Mike has an older brother Alan Smith (1950G) who survives him and is now resident at Onrus Manor.

Our condolences go to Mike's wife Jill, his brother Alan and the extended family.