TRIBUTES have been paid to agricultural judge Dennis Smith, who sadly died after a crash on the A303 in Somerset last week.
Mr Smith, along with partner Claire and cousin, Andy, passed away after a crash on the Ilminster Bypass near Whitelackington on Thursday afternoon (August 15).
The trio are believed to have been making their way home from the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show, where Mr Smith was judging cattle.
The family said Andy and Mr Smith “were super close, as we all were”, with Andy leaving behind a wife and two teenage daughters.
A Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show spokesperson said Mr Smith had spent his final few days “doing what he loved best”.
“It is with deep sadness that the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Agricultural Society share the devastating news of the passing of Dennis Smith, who was yesterday’s Supreme Dairy Championship judge, and also the passing of Claire, his partner and Andy (Oakroyal),” they added.
“Our thoughts are with friends and family at this time. It’s a tragic loss to cattle showing and judging and a sad moment for the Holstein breed.”
The Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show ran across August 14 and 15 at the showground in Motcombe, Dorset.
A farmer throughout his life, Mr Smith represented Somerset in the National Stock Judging Finals, winning it when he was 16, before becoming stock judging trainer for the Devon Young Farmers team.
He was also a herdsman for R Stafford-Smith, for the Pottrells herd, joining his father, who was farm manager.
Mr Smith later began the Oakroyal herd, after purchasing his first Terling heifer.
Later, he enjoyed roles with the United Cattle Breeders, eventually became a non-executive director when the firm joined CBS.
What a tragedy. I only met him once in the late 70s. He worked for CBS at the time and dropped in to advise on breeding selection for the herd I was managing. It was obvious he had a first class eye for livestock. Very sad news.