John Smith, former owner and founder of Smiths Hotel, sea front Weston-super-Mare, died on 15th July 2019 aged 89 years. He was a prominent hotelier and became president of the Hotels & Restaurant Association, being heavily involved in the catering college and Westhotex Exhibitions held at the Winter Gardens. The hoteliers enjoyed trips abroad and even a grand ball with the Sid Lawrence Orchestra.
He moved to Weston with his parents when they were bombed out of London and their bakery businesses. After his army national service was complete, where he represented his squadron and competed at distance shooting at Bisley Shooting Ground, winning numerous medals and placards (notably best distance shot in the Army 1948/1949), he trained in Switzerland before joining the new family enterprise “The Mentone Hotel” on the sea front at Weston with his new bride Umberta. John led the expansion to make Smiths Hotel what it is today.
John and Umberta have two children, Francesca and Adrian who now lives in Australia and four grandsons, David, Christopher, Marcus and Morgan.