'Battle of Britain beauty knocked me off my feet'
Northampton's first Miss Battle of Britain has died aged 80.
Geraldine Smart was crowned queen of the town's beauty contest in September 1948 when she was just 18 years old.
The contest was organised by the Royal Air Forces' Association as part of the Battle of Britain celebrations and Miss Turner, as she was then, attended many functions over her 12-month reign.
At the time the Chronicle and Echo reported that 12 of the prettiest girls in the town battled it out for the inaugural title.
It said: "Miss Turner was chosen not only for her beauty but also for her personality. The finalists were put through rigorous tests of speech and deportment.
"There were a few moments of suspense before the winner was announced."
Miss Battle of Britain, then a planning clerk for Mettoy from Cyril Street, was tested on her public speaking before being named the winner and awarded a bouquet of flowers and a handbag 'complete with compact and fittings'.
It was a year later that she met her future husband, Syd Smart, who told the Chron he was knocked off his feet the first time he saw Geraldine.
He said: "I thought, blimey, I fancy her.
"She was a very good looking girl, and the first time I saw her she was at another beauty contest.
"We were married in 1950, and I was certainly very lucky. We were together for more than 60 years."
The couple had three children together, two daughters and a son, and lived in New Duston until 1966 before the family moved to Wales for Mr Smart's job.
Mr Smart added: "She always kept a scrapbook of the photos and cuttings from her year as Northampton's Miss Battle of Britain.
"It certainly must have been an exciting time for Geraldine, she was always full of life.
"Naturally she became quite well known in Northampton because of that and we've still got friends in Northampton."
Geraldine died on May 28 at her home in Carmarthenshire, Wales.
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