William Sydney (Smith) Lovell-Smith (1852 - 1929)

Born 23 Oct 1852 in London, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Catherine Wilson (Malcolm) Lovell-Smith — married 15 Aug 1925 in Christchurch, New Zealand

Descendants

Died 16 Apr 1929 at age 76 in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

Biography

Articles in Newspapers
1929 - Obituary
MR W. S. LOVELL-SMITH. The death occurred on Tuesday of Mr William Sydney Lovell-Smith, at his late residence, "Midway," Ricarton, in his seventy-seventh year. He was the second son of the late Mr James Thomas Smith, and was born in London in 1852. Mr Lovell-Smith came to New Zealand with his parents in the ship William Miles in 1860, and the family settled in St. Albans. After some commercial experience, he joined his father in the printing firm of J. T. Smith and Co. in 1872, and assisted in building up the business, afterwards known as Smith and Anthony, Ltd. He was managing director of the company from 1890 until his retirement three years ago, when the business was merged into that of Coulls, Somerville, Wilkie, Ltd. He was a member of the Masonic Order, and was on the committee of the Industrial Association when it was first formed in 1878. He was also chairman of the Riccarton School Committee, and a trustee of the Riccarton Village Wesleyan Church, opened in 1886?. Up to the date of his death he was a member of the committee of the Canterbury Pilgrims Association. Music was Mr Lovell-Smith's chief hobby. As a boy he sang alto in Mr Long's singing class, and assisted in the various concerts given in the community, by singing or by playing the double bass. He was associated with the tonic-sol-fa movement in Christchurch, and acted for a short while as procentor in St. Andrew's Church. In the seventies he was appointed choir- master at St. Albans Wesleyan Church, conducting Handel's Detttingon "Te Deum," Mozart's "Twelfth Mass," the "Messiah," and selections from the other oratorios. Removing to Upper Riccarton in 1883, he was instrumental in forming the Riccarton Choral Society, and was conductor when its performances included such works as Handel's "Judas Maccabeus," and Sterndale Bennett's "May Queen. As a member of Mr Henry Wells's Motett Society he took part in the music of the eighties and nineties, and conducted two glee clubs. Keenly interested in the advancement of women, Mr Lovell-Smith gave his assistance to the womem sufrage movement, which culminated in the franchise, granted in 1893. Some years afterwards, several misstatements apprearing in the Press concerning the history of the movement, he wrote and published "Outlines of the Women's Franchise Movement in New Zealand," a work which remains as the classic on that subject. The year before the Great War broke out, Mr Lovell-Smith, accompanied by his wife, made an extended tour of India, Europe, and Great Britain. He married twice, first, the eldest daughter of the late John Cumberworth, by who he leaves five sons and five daughters, and second, Mrs K. W. Sheppard, who survives him.^[1]

1929 - The Funeral
LATE MR W. S. LOVELLSMITH.
THE FUNERAL. The funeral of the late Mr William Sydney Lovell-Smith left his late residence, "Midway," Riecarton road, for the Waimairi Cemetery yesterday. The esteem in which he was held was shown by the large number of friends included in the cortège. The services at the home and at the graveside were conducted by the Rev. L. B. Neale. Wreaths were received from the following : Mr and Mrs Colin Lovell-Smith, Mr and Mrs Edgar Lovell-Smith. Mr and Mrs H. J. Lovell-Smith (Hastings), Mr and Mrs K. Ashley Lovell-Smith, Mr and Mrs Roy Lovell-Smith, Mr E. C. Brown and Miss May Brown, Mrs Lovell-Smith, the daughters, the sisters. Miss Marks, the staff Canterbury College School of Art, New Zealand W.C.T.U., North Canterbury district, W.C.T.U., Christchurch district, W.C.T.U., Mrs Lynn, Mrs Helen and Miss Phyllis Smith, Messrs Coull, Somerville, and Wilkie, Ltd. (Christchurch), Mr and Mrs W. H. Day, Mr and Mrs John Murray (Opotiki), Riccarton Methodist Church, Mr and Mrs A. W. Beaven, Mr and Mrs Malcolm Beaven, Mrs Beath. Mrs Wickenden, National Council of Women, the Misses Macleodsmith, Mr and Mrs William Ballantyne, Mr and Mrs Gurnsey, Miss Knowles, Mr and Mrs Bird, Canterbury Pilgrims' Association, Messrs Harper, Pascoe, Buchanan, and Upham, old staff of Messrs Smith and Anthony, Mr and Mrs Lucerne Linton-Smith, Mrs John Puschel, and members of Rugby street choir. ^[2]

Burial

Waimairi Cemetery, Christchurch, New Zealand
Together with his first wife Jennie
His find a grave profile ^[3].

Sources

1. ↑ OBITUARY.,Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19597, 18 April 1929
2. ↑ LATE MR W. S. LOVELLSMITH.,Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19598, 19 April 1929
3. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/177236597/william-sydney-lovell-smith

• "Births, Deaths & Marriages Online", [digital index], New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (http://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz).
  • Marriage Registration / 1874/9205 / Mary Jane Cumberworth & William Sydney Smith
  • Marriage Registration / 1925/6258 / Catherine Wilson Sheppard & William Sidney Lovell-Smith
  • Death Registration / 1929/3509 / Name: Lovell-Smith, William Sidney / Aged: 76Y