Bideford Community Hospital opened in 1925 and is celebrating its 100^th anniversary as a major feature of the town this year. The building of the hospital was made possible thanks to a generous donation from Sir William Reardon Smith, a wealthy shipowner who was born in Appledore in 1856. He made major contributions to hospitals in both south Wales and the West Country, including Bideford. 

William Reardon Smith was the son of a sea captain who died along with his eldest son, Philip, in October 1859 when his schooner sank off the South Wales coast. His mother brought up her remaining eight children while working as a dressmaker and William was educated at the Wesleyan day school in Appledore.

The hospital’s future benefactor went to sea aged twelve as a cabin boy on the 32-ton wooden sloop Unity. He moved from ship to ship, climbing through the ranks to become mate at the age of twenty. He passed his master’s examination in 1879 and went on to command both steam and sailing ships until in 1900 he started working for William Tatem, another wealthy ship owner, who was also born in Appledore.

William’s family moved to Cardiff and in 1905 he set up his own company, W R Smith and Son. His first new ship was City of Cardiff. By the outbreak of the First World War Reardon Smith owned nine tramp steamers. Throughout the war, trade was good although many ships were lost. Post war trade continued to be prosperous with the fleet increasing to 39 vessels trading worldwide and operated by six Reardon Smith companies, which made it the largest Cardiff shipping operation. All ships were registered in Bideford.

The depression from 1922 saw great hardship for shipping companies and Reardon Smith used his Appledore links to lay up many ships in the River Torridge. He opened laid up ships to the public, charging a penny a visit, with all funds going to Bideford Hospital.

Reardon Smith had a great sentimental attachment to his birthplace of Appledore and up until the Second World War, all the working boats and lifeboats for the company’s new ships were built by Appledore boat builders. Once finished, the boats were rowed on the flood tide up the River Torridge to Bideford and then transported by rail to the shipyard constructing the new ship. 

Our hospital’s benefactor died in Cardiff on 23 December 1935, aged 79.