Leslie Smith (1904-2000).

With the death of Leslie Smith on 10th January, at the age of 93, the Trust lost one of its most loyal members. When the Trust launched itself on the world in 1946 it decided to invite other societies to nominate representatives to serve on the Trust’s Committee. Leslie represented the Doncaster Scientific Society (now the Doncaster Naturalists’ Society). This system soon lapsed and Leslie became a Trust member.

Leslie was involved with several of the town’s societies. He was a vice president of the Doncaster Naturalists; Society, a member of the Doncaster branch of the Yorkshire Archaeological Society (formed in 1948) and secretary 1966-72. On completion of the Museum & Art Gallery a move was made to form a society to foster the arts in Doncaster. Leslie was a member of the pilot committee and then of the Executive Committee of the new society, the Doncaster Arts & Museums Society. Leslie was also a member of the Society of Genealogists.

Leslie was brought up in Balby, but in 1936 moved to Zetland Road with his wife, Olive. He worked in the railway offices and enjoyed travelling but had a special affection for his home town and spent many hours researching its history. In 1968 Leslie agreed to be c0-opted onto the Trust’s Executive Committee.

The Trust formed a Conservation Sub-committee in 1971 and Leslie was co-opted. The first conservation areas were designated in 1967 but by 1971 none had been designated in the borough. In 1973 the sub-committee produced a detailed report on the quality of Doncaster’s townscape and made recommendations for the designation of conservation areas in the town centre – the council accepted the report’s recommendations.

Leslie served on the Executive Committee and the Conservation Sun-committee until 1979. Retirement from work enabled Leslie to devote more time to historical research. He was often in the Reference Library with Ted Day, his colleague from the railway, scanning the bound volumes of the Doncaster, Nottinghamshire & Lincoln Gazette. On other days he could be seen striding vigorously across Town Field, haversack on his back, on his way to Leeds and the Library of the Yorkshire Archaeological Society.

In 1985 the Council declared the public had no right of access to Doncaster Common for the purpose of recreation. Many people sent statements to the Trust giving details of their use of the Common. Leslie stated that he was 78 and had used the Common for walking and nature study since childhood. The Trust took the issue to the High Court and obtained a Judgment (1 October 1986) that the public’s use of the Common for the purpose of recreation was not only lawful but as of right.

Leslie maintained his interest in the work of the Trust in spite of failing eyesight. For the last three years he was blind but remained in contact with the Trust and the Newsletter was read to him by his caring neighbour.

[This article was published in the Doncaster Civic Trust Spring 2000 Trust Topics, Newsletter (Issue No. 1).]