George Smith (John Lennon)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other persons named George Smith, see George Smith (disambiguation).

George Toogood Smith (1903–1955) was the maternal uncle, through marriage, of British musician John Lennon. Lennon lived with George and his wife Mimi for the majority of his childhood when his mother Julia (under pressure from the local authorities and her family) decided that she was unable to care for her son.^[1] George is recognised for his role as a father figure to the young Lennon, in Alf Lennon's absence, and for the profound impact his death had on him.^[2]

'Mendips' - George and Mimi's home.

Smith operated a dairy farm and retail outlet with his brother Frank in the village of Woolton, which had been in the Smith family for four generations.^[2] At the time of World War II the British Government took over their farmland for war work and the family had to find other jobs.

He courted Mimi Stanley for 7 years before they married on 15 September 1939, just after Britain declared war on Germany. He was called up but discharged three years later and went to work in an aircraft factory in Speke. Mimi would later say that George was a gambler, and had lost most of their money.^[3]

The couple lived at "Mendips" at 251 Menlove Avenue, in the middle class suburb of Woolton. Smith was very fond of Lennon, and his softer approach to parenting is often held in stark contrast to the sterner Mimi.^[2] It was George who taught the four year old Lennon to read by reading out loud the headlines of the Liverpool Echo.^[4] He also taught John to draw and paint and bought him his first mouth organ.

George delivered milk by pony and trap in the Woolton area.^[5] The milk was held in a large churn which was ladled out to customers into their own bottles and receptacles. During the school holidays Lennon and his cousins were allowed to accompany him.

George died suddenly aged 52 of a haemorrhage.^[6] At the time, Lennon was visiting family in Scotland and was not informed until he returned home. He took the news very badly. This, along with the death of his mother two years later,^[7] and the absence of his father, is seen as being a major factor in Lennon's early life.