The Midland journalist who famously coined the name Spaghetti Junction during a celebrated 44-year career has died, aged 85.
Roy Smith, who was the municipal correspondent for the Post’s sister paper The Birmingam Evening Mail, covered the civic life during the 60s, 70s and 80s and was also honoured with an MBE .
Former colleagues and politicians paid tribute to the reporter, describing him as a ‘real gentleman’ and a credit to journalism.
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His former colleague, also a Birmingham Mail municipal correspondent, David Bell, said: “He was a really, really nice man, very bright and a real gentleman – for a journalist.
“He will always be known as the man who named Spaghetti Junction.”
Birmingham Liberal Democrat leader Paul Tilsley, who was first elected to the council in 1968, said: “He was one of those rare people who was able to combine the role of top investigative journalist with being a true gentleman.
“I still hold him in high affection. I have fond memories of Roy Smith.”
In 1965 he managed to name Birmingham’s most famous landmark quite by accident when viewing the first plans of the new M6 interchange at Gravelly Hill.
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Looking at the tangle of motorway slip roads, he described it as “like a cross between a plate of spaghetti and an unsuccessful attempt at a Staffordshire knot”. The report appeared in the paper under the headline ‘Spaghetti Junction’ and a legend was born.
Mr Smith was highly regarded around the corridors of power in Birmingham, covering the council at a time when great figures like Sir Dick Knowles and Sir Neville Bosworth led the city.
Upon his retirement in 1988 he received messages and well wishes from many councillors and MPs,
Shortly after he was recognised for his services to journalism with an MBE in the Queen’s 1989 New Year Honours. Even then he spared a thought for his many former colleagues who ‘soldier on and don’t get awards’.
Mr Smith was born and raised in Kings Heath and married his wife Margaret at Hall Green Parish Church. They recently celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary.
While working at the Mail the couple lived in Wythall, where Mr Smith spent ten years building an ocean-going yacht in his garden.
The couple retired to Exmouth, and later Torquay, where he could indulge his passion for sailing.
Mr Smith leaves Margaret, three children and eight grandchildren.