Owner of furniture store dies aged 68

A grandfather-of-six, who overcame sight problems to establish a prominent Dudley furniture business, has died aged 68.

Philip Henry Smith built up the business, in Flood Street, over 28 years all while coping with the effects of having a brain tumour when he was 14, which left him with poor eyesight.

The keen Baggies fan also worked for business tycoons Roy and Don Richardson who built the Merry Hill shopping centre in Brierley Hill.

Mr Smith died on Saturday of a suspected heart attack. He leaves wife Sylvia, children Tracey, Warren and Emma and six grandchildren.

"He was so hard working and had put everything into his business but he also loved his family and his grandchildren very much," said his youngest daughter Emma, aged 32.

"Because their names are Smith all the grand kids used to called him Grandad Apples and my mum Granny Apples."

He was born in Smethwick and lived with parents Eileen and Harry and sister Cheryl. He attended Spon Lane School before being diagnosed with the brain tumour behind the eye, which although successfully operated on, affected his sight for the rest of life.

After leaving school, he worked with his father at a nearby Burmitt metal works as a metallurgist before joining Richardson Developments as a salesman at its Oldbury base.

Mr Smith also worked at Dudley's furniture store, in West Bromwich. After a few years of building up his contacts, Mr Smith decided to go it alone and opened up Philip Henry Furnishings in Dudley in 1984. Initially the business was based in a small warehouse.

Mr Smith met his bride-to-be Sylvia when one of her friends introduced them at a birthday party.

They married on March 2, 1969, at Moor Street Methodist Church, in West Bromwich. They eventually set up home in Kingswinford and enjoyed listening to Elvis music. The family will announce funeral details in due course.