Hebridean Men's Cancer Support Group

7 days ago

D L Smith
I have always known about DL but only because he was living on Kenneth Street. He was six years older than me and when you are wee that is eons of difference. And anyway, he lived at the posh end of Kenneth Street with Clendy and Billy Forsyth and if you turned the corner into Scotland Street Bronco, Basher and Norman Macrae, the coalman. I, on the other hand, had as my contemporaries, “Prof” Mackay, Philip Macleod, the Macarthur twins, Donnie “B”, Margaret Prince, Anne Bruce (a visitor) and my best pal, “Cannon”, Murdo Maclean. In 1950 over 350 people lived on Kenneth Street packed in like sardines.
DL started his apprenticeship as a cobbler in 1952. He was the third in the family to join the business. In 1952 I was nine years old. He and I had little in common. I was just a wee guy. He was entering the sphere of adulthood. But I do remember him from the night when the cub scouts were “thrown up” to become scouts. It was exciting. It took place in the “Wee School”. All the scouts and cubs gathered and those cubs old enough to move on to be full scouts, joined a line. At the head of the hall the scouts stood in pairs facing one another with their arms suitably linked to form a channel at waist height along which cubs were “thrown” at a gentle pace. When you came out the other end you were presented with your scout neckerchief. It was very exciting and there was DL resplendent in his full uniform and wearing his kilt. He looked splendid. I vowed that someday I might look like him!
By the time I left school and went off to Aberdeen to finish my initial education, DL was part of an increasingly successful business. Not only were they cobblers, but they also sold shoes and clothes. They became suppliers to the initial Arnish Project, and we have heard so many stories about just how difficult that was on occasion.
He had married Violet Grey, daughter of Eddie Grey who was clearly rich cause he stayed on Goathill in a big house. She was also a real cracker, but I was young, I didn’t know what that meant. He palled around with Colin Maciver, Billy Forsyth and “Big Fred” Maclennan. They were men we all knew but were seldom in their company. We might see them at balls which were very popular for a time. It was an excuse to dress up, and these guys and their wives looked quite splendid in their tuxes and the girls in beautiful gowns. Mary and I caught the end of the era of the ball. Not sure why it ceased? Suffice to say we lived parallel lives for quite some time.
I knew his children through Alyth when they were in TNI. But mostly Mary and I were heavily involved in politics - mostly teacher trade unionism, so our lives did not cross too much. Then, in interesting circumstances, I retired early. I then became interested in the history of Kenneth Street where I was born. I joined the committee of the Stornoway Historical Society. (It really was ridiculous that I should join the committee given that I had only lived around Stornoway all my life whereas Mary’s historical roots and expertise went back eons. She did organise the Winter Lecture Series for many years.)
Both DL and Violet were committee members of long standing and their knowledge of people and places locally never failed to amaze me. Prior to this I had decided to write a history of Kenneth Street which I intended to deliver as a lecture to the Stornoway Historical Society in the Town Hall. It took me two years of research, and I spoke to many people who lived or had lived on Kenneth Street. In carrying out that research I visited Smiths Shoe Shop.
I had heard of the Stornoway Parliament and read about it via Aimsir Eachainn in the West Highland Free Press. Now I was about to experience it for the first time. I explained my mission to DL, and he immediately took me through to the back shop to meet the men assembled there.
Norrie Macgregor, Murdo “Smokey” Macleod, George Stewart, RJ “Barts” Macleod, Bobby “Brackie” Smith, the Smith brothers - George, “Put” and DL, Michael Maclennan, Willie “Buckoch” Macleod, Fred Maclennan, Colin Maciver and many more.

I was welcome and those present were only too willing to speak with me about Kenneth Street. Not only that but they gave me details of contacts elsewhere whom I might speak with, and I found myself attending the Parliament more and more often and I realised that not only was I learning about Kenneth Street, but I was also having my education finished! I heard tales in there that I had never heard before. Some of them were actually true, and I realised that I had to toughen up my thick skin. No prisoners were taken in that workshop. You lived or died based on the tenacity of your tongue. I loved it and I knew I was accepted when, after some time, George Stewart said to me one day as we were leaving together, “I think you should join Probus. What do you think?” I had no idea what Probus was, but I said, “Yes. I should like to do that.” I suppose I might describe Probus as a more elegant version of the Stornoway Parliament in that it had a President and a committee. Both George and DL were on the committee, and I was admitted to the group after appropriate vetting. DL served on the committee until the last AGM – at least 28 years service.
When the Smith Brothers decided to bring their business to a conclusion in 2006 and it was sold, the Parliament moved to a backroom in the Masonic Lodge. It had 18 members at that time. It still meets but death has reduced the numbers significantly and it seldom now reaches double figures.
My third connection to DL was occasioned by my being diagnosed with Prostate Cancer in 2010. I heard that a men’s cancer group was being set up by Sandy Matheson and so I went along. There were seven people present and three of them did not have cancer – DL Smith, R.J. “Barts” Macleod and Ady Morrison. The others present in addition to Sandy were Murdo Smith, Willie Mackenzie and me. DL, Barts and Ady were there to help Sandy set up the group – Barts became the secretary, Ady became the treasurer and DL became the almoner. Sandy decided that he could not continue in the group because of his significant hearing problems.
I was sitting minding my own business at the first meeting after Sandy stood down. By then the group was in double figures. Barts leant over me and said, “We need a new chair. I am going to propose you. Don’t worry. I will do all the work!” And I have been the chair of HMCSG ever since.
I was not unhappy with being the chair since I had worked with Barts when I was President of the Probus Club and he was secretary. We had a ball.
DLs task was a very important one. He was charged with recording the names, addresses and site of their cancer for every man who came to our attention. He was ideal for the job because he had a wide knowledge of local people and where they came from. He was soon recording almost ninety men per year. He was most assiduous in his task and very reliable. He carried out this task until August 2026 when he, himself, was diagnosed with cancer a situation he met with characteristic bravery and acceptance.
So, through the Parliament, the Probus Club and HMCSG, DL and I became very good friends. I could not have had a better friend, and we have had many a laugh over the years. I have heard the same stories a hundred times over and I have enjoyed them just as much the hundredth time. We have laughed and laughed, and his concern for me after Mary died was very important. He, and Violet, have been the very best of friends. His attention to Violet is exemplary. He has been her rock. I cannot, indeed will not, tell you of the stories of Violet, DL and the leg. No prisoners were taken. He clearly loves his family very much and he tells us how he will go, when it is his turn, secure in the knowledge that he has done his best for Violet and Eddie, Rhona and Louise who are a credit to their parents.
We should not leave this story without reminding you all about how he won the war in the Middle East. His escapades in the jungle allowed me to sleep safely in my bed! Nor should we forget his sales techniques – the finger in the back of the shoe creating the illusion that the shoe fitted snugly, the back of the trousers scrunched up and pulled tight at the front for a perfect fit, the selling to an unsuspecting customer of two left shoes! There are many more similar tales – apocryphal no doubt but they all add to the mix that makes DL. And finally, there is the hearing aid. In his case this was undoubtedly a misnomer, for it seldom worked. It was in and out of his ear so often! And times he would be struggling to hear what pearls of wisdom we were pronouncing only to find that the hearing aid was in his pocket!
DL was notorious for insisting that he could not stand up and speak in public. From his seated position he frequently made excellent contributions to discussion entirely off the cuff. No more so than the Friday after his cancer diagnosis. I was all prepared, in his assumed absence, to tell the group of DL’s diagnosis, at least what was known at that time, when he walked in the door. He struggled a bit, but he was with us and he sat in his own corner. We are, all of us, creatures of habit. I sought to make suitable reference to DL in welcoming him. He responded by making, from a seated position, one of the best speeches I have heard honouring the group and extolling its virtues. His speech was warmly welcomed by everyone. I shall not forget his contribution. And, of course, he was praising the support that he was now receiving from all of us. That was typical of the man. He always wanted to be involved and if he volunteered to do something you could rely on the fact that it would be done. He had no compunction about seeking support for our group and he was instrumental in obtaining commitments from many people to give prizes to our annual raffle which is so important to the core support that we offer to men diagnosed with cancer.
There is no doubt about it that DL Smith’s passing will leave a huge gap in our lives. He was a genuinely lovely man who gave of himself to support organisations and individuals seeking nothing in return. We are going to miss him. ... See MoreSee Less

Hebridean Men's Cancer Support Group

2 weeks ago

Today we welcomed Ross and Kevin following their well organised car run last Saturday when they ran a fundraiser on our behalf. Delighted to have received £2030 from this generous group which included the proceeds of a raffle with prizes donated by The Harris Distillery. Great display of cars and a nice throaty sound as they sped down the road to Tarbert. Sincere thanks again from all of us at the Men’s Cancer Group. ... See MoreSee Less