The Passing of Deborah Smith

The Society are sad to hear of the passing of Deborah Smith (formerly Dennis Wheeler). Since 1981, Debbie organised and ran the North East Centre of the Royal Meteorological Society together with Kenneth Cook, a feat for which the two were awarded the Society’s Outstanding Service Award in 2016.

Debbie maintained an avid interest and enthusiasm in the centre throughout the years. Her energetic efforts and diverse speakers programme have guided an interested and committed group who have grown their knowledge of meteorology and climatology around eight annual monthly meetings.

In 1993, Deborah instigated an annual lecture in honour and memory of former President of the Society, Gordon Manley. This venture was run jointly by the North East Centre of the Royal Meteorological Society and the Geography Department of Durham University.

Deborah was later bestowed with the Gordan Manley Weather Award; an accolade given for outstanding contributions to Weather, that have aimed to further public understanding of meteorology and oceanography.

A funeral service will take place on Monday 7 August at St Nicholas Church SR2 7QY. Whilst the cremation is open to family only, the wake will begin from approximately 3.15pm, opposite the church at the Barnes.

Anyone who wishes to attend the wake or send condolences is asked to please contact the Society via info@rmets.org or 0118 2080 142, so that we can inform the family of anticipated numbers. Deborah requested family flowers only and donations to St Benedict’s Hospice.