TRIBUTE has been paid to a Whorlton forester who once served as governor of Spandau Prison where top Nazi Rudolph Hess was incarcerated.
George Smedley, who lived in the village for more than 35 years after retiring from the Foreign Office, died on May 2, aged 98.
His life was celebrated during a memorial service led by Revd Canon Alec Harding at St Mary’s Church, Barnard Castle.
Mr Smedley was born in London on September 3, 1919. His father died when he was only six months old and an aunt was the sole breadwinner in the family.
Despite this his family ensured he had a good early education.
His son, Robert, said: “My father was sent to boarding school, King’s School at Ely, but had to leave as soon as possible – he was 15 or 16. He joined the Foreign Office before the start of the war at a junior level.
“He could see the telegrams between the Foreign Office and the embassy in Berlin so he knew jolly well war was coming.”
Mr Smedley signed up with the Artists’ Rifles Territorial Army and after war broke up he joined South Lancashire Regiment. He went on to serve as a captain in the Indian Army.
He rejoined the Foreign Office after the war and married Margret Gourlay, originally from Carlisle, which co-incidentally is where his mother Muriel was born.
Their only child Robert was born during Mr Smedley’s first international posting in Burma.
He went on to serve in Brussels and Baghdad before returning to London for an extended period.
His son said: “That’s when he decided to do his law degree at King’s College London. He was somehow able to knock off at the Foreign Office and get along to King’s College.
“I think he thought that full time students had an easy time of it and it could be done part time. Of course he had the intellect not everyone has.”
Stints in Beirut and Kuwait followed before he was sent to head a Consulate General in Zaire.
His son said: “Then he went to West Berlin attached to the British Military Government. One of his functions was to serve as governor of Spandau Prison. By this time it had only one prisoner, that was Rudolph Hess.”
Hess was Hitler’s second in command and created an international sensation when he secretly flew to Scotland to negotiate a peace between Britain and Germany.
He was later held for war crimes for five decades in Spandau before committing suicide in 1987.
Governorship of the prison rotated between Britain, America, France and Russia at the time, with Mr Smedley taking up the position every four months. During this time he was able to get Hess more time to exercise in the prison yard on medical grounds, his son said.
He added: “He did not speak much about Hess. He did not think it was a significant part of his life.”
Mr Smedley’s wife died while they were in Berlin.
His son said: “Then he got the post my mother hoped he would, as head of the Nationality and Treaty Department and he was transferred back to London.”
After retiring from the Foreign Office in 1979, Mr Smedley completed his pupilage under Michael Beloff and went on to conduct various inquiries, hearings and tribunals in the North East.
He also developed an interest in forestry and went on to own forests around Blanchland.
He had only recently started another forest when he died.
His son said: “How many 90-odd-year-olds can turn 99 acres of land into forest? He was truly amazing.
“I think I took him for granted hearing all the tributes to him.”
Mr Smedley is survived by son Robert, grandsons Jonathan and Simon, and great-granddaughter Eva.
