TRIBUTES have been paid to a "popular" and "respected" Flintshire musician.

Colin Smith from Buckley died on July 17. He was 81.

Mr Smith - a former steelworker and school caretaker - was a member of Royal Buckley Town Band for more than 70 years, having first joined in June 1947.

He played the euphonium and in his later years with the band he moved on to trombone and baritone.

His daughter Christine Smith, 53, told the Leader: "He loved music and he loved to teach the youngsters.

"He was a very jovial man and was always up for a laugh.

"And he was respected and well known."

Mr Smith spent part of his career at Shotton Steelworks, before taking up the role of caretaker at Elfed High School.

Those were his two main occupations through his working life, his 85-year-old wife Joyce said - but the Royal Buckley Time Band was his main passion in his personal and social time.

Mrs Smith, who also has daughters named Elaine and Carolyn as well as a son named Gary, said: "Music was his life. He really enjoyed his time with the band.

"He was very popular and quite a joker.

"He was a lovely man, a great father and a good husband."

Mrs Smith and Lord Barry Jones, president of the Royal Buckley Town Band, told the leader of one occasion they recalled when Mr Smith marched alongside his fellow steelworkers when the Shotton site was under threat of closure.

Lord Jones said: "Mr Smith marched with me to the Houses of Parliament from Euston Railway Station.

"He was one of three train loads of steelworkers who marched from Euston to Parliament, all four miles of it. "In this historic steel march, the band headed the column. "Colin's big bass drum was arrested at the junction of Vauxhall Bridge and Millbank.

"The drum was escorted by the Metropolitan Police to Canon Row Police Station.

"It was later released from the cells by our guarantees of good behaviour."

Speaking of Mr Smith's character, Lord Jones continued: "He was a wonderful, special man. "Everything he did was sincerely done. Colin will be missed hugely.

"He represented the finest traditions of Royal Buckley Town Band.

"He was a rock, a stalwart, a friend and a proud mentor to band members."

Mr Smith's funeral will take place at Bistre Church in Buckley on Thursday (August 8) at 10.45am, then at Northop Crematorium at 12noon.