Ward Smets

Ward Smets
Born
Edouard Smets

(1929-11-21)21 November 1929
Seefhoek, Antwerp, Belgium
Died23 December 2022(2022-12-23) (aged 93)
Antwerp, Belgium
NationalityBelgian
Other namesNonkel Ward
Occupationpuppeteer

Edouard "Ward" Smets known as Nonkel Ward (21 November 1929 – 23 December 2022) was a Belgian puppeteer from Antwerp. He was a puppeteer for 67 years.[1][2][3]

Biography

Smets was born in Seefhoek, Antwerp in 1929.[2] He had a brother who was 18 years older.[4] During World War II he lost both his parents.[4] He lived for four years in the "Heilig Kruis" boys' home in Zandhoven.[2][4] He worked for a while at the Landsbond der Christelijke Mutualiteiten [nl].[4]

In the mid-1960s he performed at theatre Poesje [nl] in Antwerp.[5] In 1965 he played 26 albums of Piet Pienter en Bert Bibber at the "Kalkoense Haan" room in Antwerp.[3] Smets made the dolls himself. His wife Denise Matthys made the clothes.[2] Until a late age he gave puppet shows. When he was eigthy years old, he created eight village figures from Maria-ter-Heide [nl] on a Erfgoeddag [nl] (heritage day).[2]

Smets died at residential care campus WZC Cadiz in Antwerp on 23 December 2022, at the age of 93.[2][1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "In memoriam. Edouard 'Ward' Smets". demeyeruitvaart.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Legendarische poppenspeler Ward Smets (93) overleden". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 28 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Nonkel Ward (90) wekte 26 albums met helden van Pom tot leven: "Welke pop Piet is en wie Bert? Dat ik het zelf niet meer weet!"". Gazet van Antwerpen (in Dutch). 15 November 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Oud-poppenspeler Nonkel Ward was enig weeskind in Heilig Kruis". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 5 August 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  5. ↑ SCHEPENS, Piet; VAN DE CASTEELE, Guy, "Poesje in Antwerpen", Uitgeverij Project, Antwerp, 1988.