Ward Smets
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]
Ward Smets | |
|---|---|
| Born | Edouard Smets 21 November 1929 |
| Died | 23 December 2022 (aged 93) Antwerp, Belgium |
| Nationality | Belgian |
| Other names | Nonkel Ward |
| Occupation | puppeteer |
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.[4]
In the mid-1960s he performed at theatre Poesje 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 on a Erfgoeddag (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
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "In memoriam. Edouard 'Ward' Smets". demeyeruitvaart.be (in Nederlands). Retrieved 29 December 2022.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Legendarische poppenspeler Ward Smets (93) overleden". Het Nieuwsblad (in Nederlands). 28 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
- ↑ 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 Nederlands). 15 November 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Oud-poppenspeler Nonkel Ward was enig weeskind in Heilig Kruis". Het Nieuwsblad (in Nederlands). 5 August 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
- ↑ SCHEPENS, Piet; VAN DE CASTEELE, Guy, "Poesje in Antwerpen", Uitgeverij Project, Antwerp, 1988.