Ian Handford: How Henry earned the title HMS Brixham

One of Brixham’s best-loved dignitaries Henry Maddick Smardon was born on 22 October 1869 a son of Henry Tozer Smardon and his wife Susan Ann Maddick. Henry attended Rea Hill Boys’ School Brixham (superseded by Furzeham Hill in 1889) and at the early age of fourteen was appointed a pupil teacher. Affectionately known as ‘Spot’ Smardon he became a popular figure at school and taught for the next forty-six years until finally retiring as Headmaster in 1930. 

In addition to these duties, Henry became President of the Devon Teachers Association and the Teign and Dart Teachers Association. He spent his whole life in his beloved hometown - Brixham, volunteering for numerous institutions before eventually being "dubbed HMS Brixham’. He even worked as a news reporter by contributing articles to both regional and national newspapers for 40 years. Having a knowledge of local history and local personalities he gave tireless service to an impressive list of institutions including the Brixham Town Hospital, Churchwarden of All Saints Church and became a staunch champion of Trawler Inshore fishermen and Secretary of the Devon Sea Fisheries and Chairman of the Brixham Fish Control & Distribution Advisory Committee. 

As an active sportsman, he was also President of the Devon Rugby Football Union in 1913-14 and repeated this during 1938-39. In 1908 he had been elected to its Committee before serving it for 38 years until 1946. He also became a life member of Brixham Rugby Club and today his initials ‘HMS’ still dominate the gates at Astley Park Brixham. He owned this sports ground with his friend Bernard Astley from 1921-22 and they donated it to the local community. As a founder member of Brixham Yacht Club and Secretary of Brixham's - Torbay Royal Regatta from 1899 to 1946 Henry also became Secretary of the Torbay Lifeboat Association a role he retained for 25 years. Having served the Royal National Lifeboat Institute from 1924 to 1948 in 1932 Henry had invited the Prince of Wales (later after abdication came as King Edward VIII) to officially launch the new lifeboat for Brixham. 
 
As an entrepreneur, the Smardon field had been developed as one of Brixham's earliest holiday camps at Furzeham while meanwhile with his wife Emma, he also developed the family business at No. 8 Bolton Street (the family home) which today sports our Civic Society Blue Plaque. During the First World War, the Smardon Library donated books to troops hospitalised, while their eldest son William returned safely from Mesopotamia and married Margery Fawcett of Paignton and the couple then successfully ran the Bolton Road Library with its Newsagents and Gift shop. Like his father William served as a member of the Urban District Council and on selling the business finally ran the family holiday camp. Subsequent owners of the Bolton Road shop retained the businesses as "Smardons’ until eventually in 1989 it was taken back by William and Mary’s daughter Isabelle and her husband Derrick Barker who ran the plaque event. 

Prominent in raising funds for the war effort during 1939-1945, was the Organising Secretary of Brixham National Savings Week and was elected to the Brixham Urban District Council in 1937 and was its Chairman until 1945. For all this extraordinary dedication to his local community, Henry was awarded an MBE by King George VI and attended Buckingham Palace. The honour ‘for services to Brixham’ was in the New Year Honours list 1944. Four years later at the age of 79 on 28 Oct 1948 Henry M Smardon MBE died. 

It was later reported that ‘if his body had been examined the word “Brixham" would be found on his heart - as no man could have a greater pride in his town than he’. His family sponsored the Blue Plaque and witnessed it unveiled above the side door of No. 8 on 22nd October 2015.