Charlie Smith

Early life Charles Stephen Smith was born on the 20 June 1956 in Rochford, Essex to Charles Smith and Peggy Smith, née Livermore.

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. Following the death of Arthur Stevens Smith became Deputy Mayor of Castle Point Borough Council in 2001. in 2002 became the Mayor of Castle Point Borough Council, making Smith the first Romani Mayor in the UK.

Together with Janie Codona , Smith represented the Gypsy and Traveller Law Reform Coalition during the fourteenth session of the Joint Committee On Human Rights. From April 2004 until his death, Smith was a commission member of the Commission for Racial Equality.

Poetry, film and literacy career Smith began writing poetry in the 1980s. Smith had two books of poetry published, The Spirit of the Flame (c.1990) and Not all Waggons and Lanes (1995).

Smith collaborated with Jeremy Sandford on the 1995 film 'Spirit of the Gypsies'. Smith and Loveridge had one son before later divorcing. Smith lived openly with his partner George Wilson, who cared for Smith in his final years.

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

Smith, Charles. (1995) Not all Waggons and Lanes: Poems. Essex: Essex County Council.

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.

(2004) Footsteps in the Sand. The Gypsy Council for Education, Welfare and Civil Rights (Film)