THE former owner of a busy motor repair business has died aged 75.

Malcolm Smith owned and ran Malcolm Smith Motor Repairs at Barugh Green for more than 20 years. He died last Tuesday following a short illness.

He retired from the business about 15 years ago when it was taken over by his son David, but shortly afterwards David died of a heart attack aged 36.

Malcolm subsequently sold the land.

“He was really well known and we’ve had a lot of messages from people telling us their car’s never run the same since,” said Malcolm’s daughter Tracy Martin.

Malcolm, of Oakfield Walk, Pogmoor, was raised at Beaumont Avenue, Barnsley, and always worked with cars, starting out as a mechanic with the Co-op.

With wife Ann, who died about ten years ago, they ran the Wilthorpe Service Station for several years.

“My mum would pump the petrol and my dad would fix the cars,” said Tracy. He later went on to buy the land on Claycliffe Road at Barugh Green where he built his business.

Malcolm is survived by two children, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

A funeral will be held at Barnsley Crematorium on Friday April 13 at 3.30pm, followed by a gathering in the hospitality suite at Barnsley Football Club, where Malcolm had been a season ticket holder for more than 60 years.