25 April 1920 Born in Altofts. Parents: James and Emily Smart

Attended Altofts West Riding Colliery School

1934 Starts work at West Riding Colliery

Joined National Union of Mineworkers

1934 Moves to Glasshoughton Colliery

1948 elected to NUM Branch Committee, Glasshoughton Colliery

1950 President of branch

1956 Branch Secretary and Delegate

1959 Full-time area official for North Yorkshire Area (until 1980)

1949 President of the Castleford and District trades Council (until 1974)

(TUC Silver Badge for 21 years service for this)

1944 Joins Labour Party

1949 Councillor Castleford Urban District Council/ Borough Council (to 1974)

1961 Justice of the Peace

1962 Mayor of Castleford (youngest)

1973 Wakefield MDC - councillor for Glass Houghton ward

Leader of council 1973 to 1984

1973 Policy Committee of the Association of Metropolitan Authorities

1973 Deputy Chair, 1976-1978 and 1980- 1984 Chair

Founder member Consultative Council on Local Government Finance

Member of Layfield Committee of Inquiry into local government finance

One of driving forces twinning Castleford with Herne

1951 Pontefract, Castleford and Normanton Hospitals Committee

Pontefract, Castleford and Goole Hospital Management Committee 1956-1973

Leeds Regional Hospital Board

1977-1982 Chairman Wakefield Area Health Authority

1982- Wakefield District Health Authority

1976 Awarded CBE

1982 Awarded Knighthood

1983 Fellow Royal Society of Arts

1983 Honory Fellowship Bretton Hall College

1985 Awarded Freedom of the City

2005 Publishes autobiography "The Life that Jack Built"

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