Obituary Ð Geoffrey Smith

Industry colleague Tony Jarratt said Smith was well known in optics, having started his career in 1978 on joining Rodway, a name with which he was to be associated for the remainder of his life. After a short time with Norville he then moved to ABC Diamond, which specialised in the manufacture of all types of diamond edging wheels and generating tools for the optical industry.
He then returned to Rodway, but shortly afterwards he recognised a gap in the market for the maintenance and re-conditioning of edging equipment. Smith then decided to start up his own business, named Abbal Optical and undertook to maintain all types of glazing machinery and plant.
After the death of George Rodway and the break-up of the Rodway group, Smith purchased the name and manufacturing rights to the machines, which he produced until his death. He also made a range of hand edgers, tinting baths and diamond wheels to customer's specifications. This production was carried out under the Abbal name until 1999, when it reformed as GBS Optical.
Jarratt added that, in private life, Smith never forgot his country origins and retained a love of field sports. 'He will be sadly missed, by both friends and family, and our sympathy goes out to his widow Christine,' he said.