South Yorkshire Times, April 15th, 1944
With One Firm
Retirement of Mr. A. J. Lineham Smith
Mr A. J. Lineham Smith, of The Cottage, Carr Road, Wath, retired last week, after 63 years’ service with the firm of Nicholson and Co., solicitors of Wath.
Mr. Smith, who is 79, was apprenticed to the firm as a solicitor’s clerk in 1881, when it was Messrs. Nicholson Saunders, Nicholson, and Reeder. He has known the four original partners and Mr. D.M. Nicholson, who joined the firm in 1894 and died in 1926, and Mr. P. P. C. Muspratt, another partner who died in 1922.
Mr. Smith is the only surviving member of the staff as it was in 1881. He has taken part in many local elections, West Riding County Council elections, and local Parliamentary elections, usually as presiding officer at a local polling station. On his retirement the staff gave Mr. Smith a personal gift and Mr. T. C. Nicholson handed him a cheque in appreciation of his long and valued service.
Mr. Smith has contributed greatly to the social and sporting life of Wath, devoting time, energy, and talent to many causes. For 37 years he was organist and choirmaster at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and has also been deputy organist at Wath Parish Church. At one time he directed a philharmonic band and male voice choir, and, in addition gave freely of his musical talent on many occasions. Amateur theatricals have also claimed his interest and he has done good work for the Mechanics Institute.
For over fifty years he was local correspondent for the “South Yorkshire Times.” And wrote interesting notes under the pseudonym of “Montgomery.” He was also local correspondent for several daily and evening newspapers. Mr. Smith is fond of gardening and still busies himself on his plots. It is hardly likely that he will ever retire completely; he is now engaged on preparing a handbook on the history of Wath-on-Dearne. Mrs. Smith died last year. Mr. and Mrs. Smith celebrated their Golden Wedding some three years ago.