---
title: "Alexandria hospital receives £50k donation in honour of the late, great Walter Smith"
canonical: "https://readrangers.com/2026/10/26/ethel-walter-smith-50k-donation-hospital"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Graeme Hanna"
section: "Rangers News"
published: "2026-10-26T17:10:42Z"
modified: "2026-10-26T17:12:08Z"
---

# Alexandria hospital receives £50k donation in honour of the late, great Walter Smith

**Ethel Smith, the widow of Rangers hero and legend Walter Smith, has handed over a £50,000 donation to the Vale of Leven Hospital in Alexandria in gratitude for the care her dear husband received at the facility’s cancer unit.**

On the fifth anniversary of Walter Smith’s passing, the donation was revealed and presented to the hospital via the Emmie Smillie Foundation.

Mrs Smith had no hesitation in choosing the West Dunbartonshire hospital as the beneficiary of the funds when asked where she would like the money to go.

> 💙 Today, we remember the great Walter Smith.\
> \
> On the fifth anniversary of his passing, we remember with immense affection one of the greatest figures in Rangers Football Club's history. [pic.twitter.com/JUI57tNVs8](https://t.co/JUI57tNVs8)
>
> — Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) [October 26, 2026](https://x.com/RangersFC/status/2114643198647701517?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

As revealed by the [Rangers Review](https://www.rangersreview.co.uk/news/26671050.rangers-legend-walter-smith-honoured-50-000-donation/), the massive donation in memory of Walter is said to be one of the biggest ever received by Vale of Leven, which will be utilised to improve services on site.

The money will also help to improve the experience of patients and their families in their time of need.

“When I was asked where I would like the money to go, I had no hesitation in nominating the unit here at the Vale, said Mrs Ethel Smith.

“Walter received treatment here, so it felt fitting as a thank you for the care we received from the unit and the hospital in general.

“I’m so glad the money will be used here. We have personal experience of what the hospital does for the local community, and this donation is part of recognising that.”

## Emmie Smillie Foundation facilitates donation in honour of Walter Smith

The £50,000 cheque was presented to Charge Nurse June Raines and Gerry O’Hare, a former Clinical Nurse Specialist at the hospital who had been involved in Walter’s care.

O’Hare said the donation would make a meaningful difference to patients and stressed the vital importance of the service to people across the wider area.

The haematology-oncology unit delivers day-care treatment for patients with cancer and blood disorders, enabling many to receive care locally without an overnight hospital stay.

Its services include chemotherapy, blood transfusions and symptom management support.

The Emmie Smillie Foundation was founded by businessman Andy Smillie after the death of his daughter from cancer. It supports cancer services throughout Scotland through fundraising and charitable donations.

## Fifth anniversary of Walter Smith’s passing

Walter Smith may no longer be with us in person, but his indelible mark will forever be woven into the fabric of Rangers FC.

Legends never die is the sentiment and that rings true for the late, great Walter Smith.

Even in death, he remains a benchmark of quality, authority, and impact at Rangers.

Current manager [Derek McInnes](https://readrangers.com/search?q=derek+mcinnes) looks up to his mentor, and has given his [own reflections on the anniversary](https://www.rangersreview.co.uk/interviews/26666667.walter-smith-advice-still-shapes-mcinnes-rangers-manager/).

It was Bill Struth who coined the phrase, “No true Ranger has ever failed in the tradition set him.”

Walter Smith is the modern embodiment of those Rangers values. Not only how to compete and win, but how to conduct oneself and represent the club on the pitch.

He was, and is, the Gaffer.