Many tributes have already been paid to Garner Smith, also called Bob - former Labour councillor, ex-Mayor, trades unionist, community activist, school governor, Freeman of the Borough and a man with a wicked sense of humour.

His widow, Vi, 87, herself a well-known former councillor, explained the mystery of why he was known by different names to different people.

"When he was about 20, living in Shernhall Street and active in the old Walthamstow East constituency, his father was a councillor, also called Bob, so people started using his first name, Garner, to distinguish them.

"Over in the Walthamstow West constituency, he was just Bob."

And she went on to recall: "When we were on the council and I was chairing a committee, everybody knew how I was feeling. When he was behaving himself, I called him Bob, but when he turned me over, he was Garner. It was a great joke in the party."

The Smiths, who married 67 years ago and were renowned for their devotion to each other, are believed to be the longest wed couple in the Labour Party nationally.

And they were recognised as a team.

Mrs Smith said: "I couldn't work properly without him and he couldn't work properly without me."

Though Mr Smith has had poor health for some time, he continued to work on in the community, retiring as a school governor only last year.

Both he and his wife were to be honoured next month at a garden party organised by the Walthamstow and Chingford Almshouse Charity on whose board Mrs Smith served for 45 years and her husband 25.

At her wish, that event will go ahead as a tribute to Mr Smith.

He leaves three sons, who have all come to support their mother, one from as far as Canada, and six grandchildren.

The funeral will be held next Thursday at 1p.m. at St Mary's Church, Waltham-stow Village, followed by cremation at the City of London Crematorium.

There will be family flowers only.

Donations sent to Alfred English funeral directors, 70-72 St James's Street, Walthamstow, E17 7PE, will be divided between Mr Smith's two favourite charities.

GARNER Robert Smith, who worked most of his life for London Transport up to deputy garage manager, entered political life as a teenager in the former League of Youth where he met his future wife.

He first became a councillor in the old Walthamstow borough, serving from 1958 to 1965 until the amalgamation of the former boroughs to create Waltham Forest.

He then became a councillor for first Higham Hill ward, then Lloyd Park ward, serving until 1986.

He was the borough's first deputy Mayor between 1965 and 1966 and Mayor for the year 1971/72.

A member and chair of numerous council committees, he still found time to serve as a governor at several schools for more than 40 years, giving up only last year when ill-health forced his retirement from McEntee School (now Walthamstow Academy).

He was a founding member of Waltham Forest Centre for the Unemployed and chairman of Whittingham Youth Centre house committee for more than 35 years.

Only last December, he was honoured by being made a Freeman of the Borough.

THESE are just a few of the tributes to Garner Smith that we have received so far.

Council leader Clyde Loakes: "I was very sorry to learn of Garner Smith's death at the weekend. Garner was a man that I felt honoured to know. He was a stalwart of the community, tirelessly working for its betterment.

"I was delighted to present both Garner and Vi with the Freedom of the Borough for their contributions to Waltham Forest. Garner will be greatly missed by elected members and residents alike and our thoughts are with his family, particularly Vi, at this sad time."

Mayor Liaquat Ali: "I am deeply saddened by the death of Garner Smith. His record of serving our community was exemplary.

A councillor from 1958 to 1986, Garner held the office of both deputy Mayor and Mayor with great dignity and professionalism.

"The borough has lost a very good man and I have lost a friend and colleague of more than 30 years. My thoughts are with Vi and her family."

Eric Deakins, MP for Walthamstow from 1974-87, said: "Bob dedicated his life to working for the Labour Party and the people of Walthamstow.

"In addition to his long and valued service to the local council, he was my agent and worked hard to secure Labour victories.

"Bob was a selfless person of a kind that is now rare in British politics."