Personal Life
A lifelong bachelor, Smith told You magazine: "I haven't had a lot of time for courting women ... I've tended to be married to politics".
After leaving Westminster and the death of his mother Eva in 1994, Smith was invited by a lifelong friend, the public relations manager at Cunard, to become a guest lecturer on the QE2 cruise liner.
Smith was a lifelong member of Rochdale Unitarian Church, and maintained strong links with the Unitarian church throughout his political career and afterwards. He held various posts in the church, including Sunday School Superintendent, and a member of the Board of Trustees, which he chaired for many years.
In 1988 Smith appeared in an advertisement promoting the Access credit card. As a large and jolly figure of fun, Smith was seen attempting to touch his toes whilst a presenter stated: "Nice one, Sir Cyril, but Access is more flexible".
Smith was a reasonable singer. He sang "She's a Lassie From Lancashire" on Jimmy Savile's early-1970s TV show Clunk Click, appeared on a music video for 1980s pop group Bananarama, and sang a duet with Don Estelle in a 1999 recording of the Laurel and Hardy song "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine".
In February 2006 Smith was taken to hospital after a fall at his Rochdale home. According to his brother, he had been weakened by dehydration and low potassium levels. Although retired, he was still active in his community, frequently visiting schools. His hobbies included collecting autographs.
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