SO the old chap has gone, passed into history.

The building known variously during its 78-year existence as the Ritz, the ABC, Halo and Synergy among others is no more.

It will, however, always be remembered as Mr Smith’s.

Today is a sad day. A very sad day.

It feels like we’ve lost a dear old friend, admittedly one whose best years were behind him.

He may have had some lean years recently, but he’d retained his dignity as an elegant old chap.

A proud, handsome feller, looking a bit long in the tooth and whiskery these days, but one we all had a soft spot for.

And the memories! The glorious memories.

Our readers have been sharing them this week through these pages and on social media. You can feel the emotion welling up in every syllable.

The passion that residents have for the building was demonstrated by numerous campaigns over the years to save it. I will never forget the petition to turn Mr Smith’s into a theatre. It wasn’t to be, but it was a noble effort.

What is sad about this week’s events is the fact the blaze comes at the moment when Mr Smith’s future had at last been secured as a flagship youth centre.

How criminal that we have lost such a wonderful example of art deco architecture. With some of the ugly modern buildings that are thrown up these days, we cannot afford to lose such glorious structures as this.

It was built as the Ritz Cinema by the Union Cinemas chain and opened on August 23, 1937. The first films to be shown were Without Orders and I Promise to Pay.

The venue boasted a Compton organ with an illuminated console on a lift. The Ritz also had a cafe providing refreshments for cinema-goers.

Later the same year, Associated British Cinemas (ABC) took it over.

Hollywood film comedians Laurel and Hardy made a personal appearance on the cinema stage in the early 1950s during a tour of British music halls.

The building was renamed the ABC in 1958 and was converted into a bingo club in 1972. In the 1980s it began a new lease of life as a nightclub, most famously as Mr Smith’s.

So what now for the site? Will it be used for leisure activities, retail, apartments?

Who knows? That’s for the future. I do know there’s a huge hole in the centre of Warrington where Smith’s used to be.

I believe at the very least there should be some acknowledgement on the land of its illustrious history.

A sculpture, perhaps, reflecting the building’s art deco style, fashioned out of some of the original Mr Smith’s bricks?

What do you think? Let me know. The council, take note.

There’s nothing more to say. What else is there to say?

Except, farewell old friend.