Horse-drawn hearse for champion farrier Neville Smith
A carriage drawn by two black stallions led mourners at the funeral of a three-time British champion farrier.
Family and friends of Neville Smith said their final farewell at Bushbury Crematorium, Wolverhampton yesterday. Neville, from Little Saredon, died at the age of 82, after losing his battle with stomach cancer.
He was crowned British Champion three years in a row in a competition by the Worshipful Company of Farriers, experts in shoeing horses, in 1963, 1964 and 1965.
His work commitments however meant he only entered the competition three times.
His 78-year-old widow Audrey, a retired milliner, said she was delighted so many people attended his funeral. She said: "It was a lovely day. It was very emotional but it was wonderful really. They couldn't get all the people inside. It's hard to say how many people there were in the end but I was amazed. It just showed he was very popular.That was nice. The horses looked magnificent as well."
Mr Smith formerly ran a forge on Bursnips Road, Essington, with his brother Ron, a blacksmith. He also kept seven racing horses over the years. His favourite, Superbit, had seven wins, and another called Norfolk House once came third at the Cheltenham Festival.
He taught seven apprentices the farrier trade, each over the course of six-year spells, until he stopped shoeing horses aged 78.
Those seven men, who now work up and down the country, returned as pallbearers.
A replica of the trophy which he won three times was also placed on top of his coffin.
He leaves two children, David and Donna, and two grandchildren, Danielle and Matthew.
