Torquay Rotary pays tribute to ‘dedicated and compassionate’ Lyn Smith

Tributes have been paid to one of Torbay’s best known Rotarians and community stalwarts.

Lyn Smith lived in Torquay and was a dedicated member of Torquay Rotary for 21 years until she died last month.

She served as a highly proactive president in 2014 and was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship in recognition of her outstanding service.

Torquay Rotary described her as “enthusiastic, keen, loyal, committed, thoughtful, challenging, consistent and dogged in everything she undertook”.

A spokesman said: “Lyn was very much a lady of two halves. On one hand she was a stickler for Rotary rules and procedures, always being ready to remind members of the correct way to do things and to point out when they had got it wrong.  

“This meant that not everyone appreciated her views, but she remained steadfast in her beliefs and principles.  On the other hand, she was an incredibly kind and caring person, always willing to help those in need.”

Lyn initiated many projects within the club, including Books on Wheels, which involved delivering library books to housebound residents.  

This was about far more than books: it was about personal contact. There was always time for a chat and Christmas cards all round.

She also organised the collection of unwanted medical equipment to be sent to those in need at home and abroad; coordinated local schools’ poppy collections; organised collections for Ukraine, along with many other community initiatives.

Her organisation of library books for elderly people was remarkable.  Many of those she supported were in care homes or rarely able to leave their own homes.  Lyn maintained close contact with Torquay Library and personally managed the circulation of books month by month ensuring that deliveries were made even when others were unavailable to help.  

The Rotary spokesman said: “Lyn had a particular passion for educational projects and was instrumental in establishing and developing relationships with local schools.  

“She was also very keen on ‘Bay Sports’: not always as a player but always present at events helping to strengthen cooperation between all the Bay Rotary Clubs.  

“She was invariably ready with a perceptive question for any guest speaker and had no shortage of suggestions for how things might be improved.

“She was also known affectionately as the ‘Raffle Queen’.  She had a remarkable talent for persuading people to part with their money at fundraising events and invariably supplied a cuddly toy as a prize, one that somehow no one ever quite wanted to win.

“She has left a very large gap that will be hard to fill. Lyn will be remembered for her dedication, her integrity, her compassion and her unwavering commitment to serving others.  She epitomised the Rotary ethos of “Service above Self”.