As active as Richard Smith is in Pattaya’s expat community, few can believe he’s now 80 years old.
Two-time president of the Pattaya City Expats Club, an active supporter of children’s charities and a member of such organizations as Chaine des Rotisseurs and the DeVine Wine Club, Smith has become well-known among the foreign community and even works as a translator for the city government.
So it was a pleasure for friends Allan Sherratt and Sermsakdi Sabhananda to throw Smith a surprise 80th birthday party May 4 at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort’s Grill Room restaurant. DGM Ranjith Chandrasiri, his wife Chitra and head chef Walter Thenisch put on their best for the 40 people who turned out to help Smith blow out the candles.
Richard Smith cuts his birthday cake.
Everyone waited on balcony until the guest of honor appeared, looking stunned to see all his friends. They then sang a rousing “Happy Birthday” before moving on to dinner and the cake, decorated with just eight candles – one for each decade.
