Charlie Smith (Romani poet)

Charlie Smith (1956–2005) was a British Romanichal poet, activist and politician.^[4][5]

Charles Stephen Smith was born on the 20 June 1956 in Rochford, Essex to Charles Smith and Peggy Smith, née Livermore.^[6][7] Smith's father was a popular tailor within the English Romani community. ^[5] Smith had two sisters.^[5]

Smith grew up in Hadleigh as part of the Southend-on-Sea Romani community. ^[8][5] Leaving school at age 14–15, Smith believed himself to be illiterate.^[5][7]

In the early 1970s Smith began selling antiques, specialising in early radio sets and fine bone china.^[5]

In the early 1980s, Smith joined the National Gypsy Education Council, and in 1990 succeed Peter Mercer as Chair. ^{[9][10][1][5]} Smiths leadership was characterised by moves towards NGO-isation, and was emblematic of the larger shift towards professionalisation within the British Roma Civil Rights Movement.^[1][9] Renamed as the Gypsy Council for Education, Welfare and Civil Rights, Smith remained Chair until his death in 2005.^[9][10][1]

Smith was a member of the Labour party, and from 1995–2003 was the Labour Party Councillor for Cedar Hall Ward, Castle Point Borough Council.^{[7][8][11][12]} Smith was a member of the Labour Party Campaign for Travellers' Rights (LCTR).^[13] Following the death of Arthur Stevens Smith became Deputy Mayor of Castle Point Borough Council in 2001. ^[12] in 2002 became the Mayor of Castle Point Borough Council, making Smith the first Romani Mayor in the UK.^[8]

Together with Janie Codona MBE, Smith represented the Gypsy and Traveller Law Reform Coalition during the fourteenth session of the Joint Committee On Human Rights.^[1][14][15] From April 2004 until his death, Smith was a commission member of the Commission for Racial Equality.^[5][16][17]

Smith began writing poetry in the 1980s.^[18] Smith had two books of poetry published, The Spirit of the Flame (c.1990) and Not all Waggons and Lanes (1995). ^[19][20][21]

From its 2002 inception Smith was on the board of directors of the International Romani Writers' Association (Finnish: Kansainvälinen Romanikirjailijaliitto).^[7][22]

Smith collaborated with Jeremy Sandford on the 1995 film 'Spirit of the Gypsies'. ^[5] Following the completion of his Mayoral term, Smith directed the documentary Footsteps in the Sand about the annual Romany festival in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, Camargue for the Gypsy Council.^[3][7]

In 1979, Smith married Elaine Loveridge and moved to Thundersley.^[8][23] Smith and Loveridge had one son before later divorcing.^[7][5]

In 1995, Smith was diagnosed with leukaemia, and subsequently lived with cancer for 10 years.^[6][7][24] Smith lived openly with his partner George Wilson, who cared for Smith in his final years.^[5][16][1]

• Smith, Charlie S., (1987). "God is a Gypsy". In Binns, Dennis (ed.). Gavvered all around : A collection of Gypsy poetry.^α Manchester: Travellers Education Service.^[25][26]

• Smith, Charlie. (c.1990) The Spirit of the Flame: Poems. Manchester: Abbott C.P. School; Manchester: Travellers Education Service.^[19]

• Smith, Charles. (1995) Not all Waggons and Lanes: Poems. Essex: Essex County Council.^[21][20]

• Smith, Charlie.(1998). "Up the chimneys". In Hancock, Ian; Dowd, Siobhan; Djuric, Rajko (eds.). The Roads of the Roma: a PEN anthology of Gypsy writers (1 ed.). Hatfield: University of Hertfordshire Press. pp. 101–102. ISBN 978-0-900458-90-3. ^[27]

• (2004) Footsteps in the Sand. The Gypsy Council for Education, Welfare and Civil Rights (Film) ^[7][5][3]

• Acton, Thomas, and Andrew Ryder (2014). "Charles Smith: The Fashioning of an Activist". In Ryder, Andrew; Cemlyn, Sarah; Acton, Thomas (eds.) Hearing the Voices of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Communities: Inclusive Community Development. Bristol: Bristol University Press. pp. 67–82

^α Also called Gavvered all around : an anthology of thirty poems written by ten Gypsy poets ^[28]