THE grieving partner of a man who died after an alleged assault outside a York wine bar has told of her anguish at losing her "soulmate".

Edith Smith, 46, of Cemetery Road, said William Smith, her common-law husband of 16 years, was a larger-than-life character looking forward to "living it large" during his retirement.

Mr Smith, 62, who worked for 36 years as a winning post camera operator at racecourses across the UK, died from serious head injuries he suffered during an incident at a city night spot.

She said: "Billy was my soulmate. He was the love of my life. This last two years we haven't spent a day or night apart. He never went anywhere without his 'Bible', The Racing Post."

"He was always very comical and singing. He was always happy and always joking, he was simply the best."

Mr Smith sustained serious head injuries on Good Friday when he was involved in an incident outside Yates's Wine Lodge, Low Ousegate, after an evening drinking with friends.

Mrs Smith and her daughter, Annabelle Robinson, 28, spent four days by his bedside at Leeds General Infirmary, where he underwent two operations.

But he died on Tuesday evening without ever regaining consciousness after doctors switched off his life support machines. Mrs Robinson, an agricultural contractor from North Duffield, said her stepfather was a popular man looking forward to his retirement.

She said: "He didn't have any ties or a care in the world. He was just happy-go-lucky."

Mrs Smith said she would have to organise a coach to carry all his friends and colleagues to his funeral in Dagenham, Essex, his home town. Her husband, who was due to celebrate his 63rd birthday next week, had asked that his coffin be carried through the streets by a horse-drawn carriage. She said she would put a copy of The Racing Post, some wine and a bottle of whisky in his coffin with him.

Updated: 11:42 Friday, April 25, 2003