IT is with sadness that we share with Bugle readers the news of the death of Black Country poet and entertainer Alfie Smith, at the age of 71.
Alfie was well known for his stage appearances, when he recited his hilarious poems. These he also recorded on three volumes of CDs. His poems also featured in our Black Country Ballads column many times.
He had been suffering from Parkinsons Disease, before he passed away in Sandwell Hospital on 13th March. His funeral will be held at West Bromwich Crematorium, Newton Road, on Tuesday 26th March at 1.45pm. This, ironically, would have been his 72nd birthday.
Alfie is survived by his wife Diane, sons Stuart and Stephen, and five grandchildren.
One off News of his death was first passed on to us by his friend and fellow Black Country poet, Keith Whitehouse, who said, “over the past years I have had the great pleasure to work with Alfie on many occasions”.
“He was a one off poet/entertainer, who never failed to make his audiences laugh their socks off. His punch lines are legendary and I personally laughed as much the last time I heard them as I did the first”.
“Like me, I know that many people who loved Alfie will be very sad at this time. As far as I am concerned he was and always will be a Black Country legend”
