One of Britain's most respected toymakers, Leslie Smith, died last month.

The Enfield-born manufacturer is best known for introducing the country's beloved treasures and prized collectables.

Smith co-founded the company Lesney Products with his childhood friend, Rodney Smith, shortly after returning to Civvie Street following World War II.

The pair rented a disused public house known as The Rifleman on the borders of Edmonton and Tottenham and began to make industrial parts.

The trio turned to the manufacture of toys when they moved to larger premesis in Shacklewell Lane, Dalston, and were joined in business by Jack Odell.

The fledgling company almost went out of business during the Korean War when the Government took over the supply of zinc which was essential to its manufacturing process.

The company's breakthrough came with the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 when they set upon the idea of making a miniture version of Her Majesty's coach.

Following this success, the company began to make small, affordable children's toys. Early models included a dump truck, a steamroller, a tractor and a cement mixer.

The small cars were so popular among children that by the 1960s Lesney had 13 factories and a staff of 6,000 churning out millions of Matchbox cars a day.

The decade marked the company's peak, and faced with an emerging Asian market, Smith felt compelled to sell the company to Universal Toys in 1982.

Smith was awarded an OBE in 1968, and was awarded a lifetime achievement award by the British Toy and Hobby Association, where he had served as president.

Smith, who was widowed by his wife Nancy in 1969, died on May 30, 2005. He is survived by two sons and a daughter.