A POPULAR Newport postmaster who died this week has been described as ‘well loved’ by his wife of 57 years.

Sidney Thomas Smith, who was known as Tom, died on Sunday aged 84, at St Woolos Hospital after suffering from pneumonia. He was admitted to the hospital following a fall down the stairs.

Mr Smith had recently received his award for this 30 years service to the Post Office on High Cross Road.

His wife Sonia Smith, aged 81, said: “He was very happy at the post office. He was quite proud that he was never forced to retire – he was always busy doing something.

“Everybody loved him, people have been coming in crying – he was very popular with customers. He was very helpful to them, helping them fill in forms and helping elderly ladies to get home.”

The couple were married for 56 years and were due to celebrate their 57th wedding anniversary tomorrow. Originally from Gosport in Hampshire, the couple had lived in South Wales for the past 56 years.

Mr Smith was a father of four, to Robert, Mike, Kate and Steve, and also had six grandchildren. The couple’s daughter Kate, who was a trained mental health nurse, died last year aged 51 of stomach cancer.

Mrs Smith said: “His ill health started after my daughter died. It was a bit of a shock that he has passed away but he was very poorly.

“He was a very kind man, that’s why I married him.”

Rachel Crosby, granddaughter, 23, said: “He will be sadly missed not just by the family but everyone in the area. He was loved by the customers and was a very charming man.”

Mr Smith was one of 12 children and was a qualified engineer who worked for 20 years at Saunders Valve in Cwmbran. He was the youngest skipper at 21-years-old to captain the ferry boat from Gosport to Portsmouth. Mrs Smith said: “We took him back a couple of month ago – he enjoyed it.”

The funeral service will take place on Thursday at 1pm at All Saints Church, Llanfrechfa, Cwmbran. This will be followed by a service at 2pm at Gwent Crematorium.