After the band split, Roberts brother Pete went on to have a career as a successful blues guitarist, but sadly passed away in 1999. Here is an example of his work. Sadly he succumbed to liver cancer in 1999.
After the demise of the Skiff Skatts Robert, concentrated on his Landscape gardening business for a few years, before deciding on a radical career change. Robert took a law degree and qualified as a solicitor. In 2015, after much nagging by friends (such as me) Robert got the band together for a series of reunion gigs, the highlight being at The 100 club, where they were joined on stage by a whole bunch of well known London musicians including members of Madness.
This clip features a short speech by Suggs of Madness
Sadly Robert had been plagued by ill health for many years, require a kidney transplant around ten years ago. Whilst this gave him a new lease of life, enabling the reunion to take place and the chance to see his children grow up, eventually that too started to fail. I last saw Robert last year and sadly he wasn't in good health at all. We arranged to have a drink when he improved, he was hoping for another transplant. Sadly that was not to be.
As well as music, Roberts other love was Cricket. Robert was a member of the Mill Hill Village Cricket club. Many of his friends from the club attended the wake today. There was a lovely collection of memorabilia from the Skiffs on display.
Robert Smith RIP - A true Mill Hill legend pic.twitter.com/Dz6jr3gxmF— Roger Tichborne/RogT #CTID (@Barneteye) May 31, 2019
So long old friend, safe journey.
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1 comment:
I met and photogrpahed the band in 1986 in Nottingham. I sent a contact sheet to Rob and he replied by breturning the contact sheet with a nice note on the back, which I still have.
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