Malcolm Smith's Family History Archive

---

Biography of

Malcolm  Archbald  SMITH

[Ref. S.1]

---

Photos Second trip Third trip Biography

---

In order to try and rescue Norman from the unwanted attention of Mary Ann, the wife that he was divorcing, his nephews Malcolm Smith and Tony McClure flew over to represent the support of his family. They had been alerted by friends of Norman who were concerned at what was happening to him. All the travel arrangements were made by Tony.

 
Monday 22 February 1999

Malcolm drove to Liverpool where he stayed overnight with his wife's cousins Tony and Gwen cClure.

 
Wednesday 24 February 1999

Malcolm and Tony set off for Manchester airport on a very cold frosty morning. Malcolm immediately had trouble with the windscreen of his car steaming up and had to make an urgent stop on a roundabout on a main road. Whilst clearing the screen he realsied that he had the heat controls on the wrong setting so things became better after that. They reached the airport safely and caught the plane as planned. The route was via Chicago which was very cold and snow was starting to fall causing some concern that the flight may be delayed. However, the plane left for Los Angeles on schedule but, as it was almost empty, everyone was put into the first class cabin. However, Malcolm and Tony were interested in looking out of the window so they spent much of the flight alone back in the second class cabin. There was a two hour wait for the bus to Santa Barbara so Malcolm and Tony ate in a sushi bar. Malcolm had never tried sushi before and he liked it. Next, Malcolm suggested they use up some time by taking one of the airport car park buses to look at the locality but Tony was nervous about getting lost or back late. Their bus arrived and they boarded and all passengers were offered a boiled sweet then it set off for Santa Barbara.

Malcolm and Tony were met at Santa Barbara by Norman's friends Ed and Steve. Ed gave Malcolm a small gift. Ed and Steve were as different as chalk and cheese. Ed, a former owner of an hotel in Switzerland, perfect manners and immaculately dressed and Steve, an iconic Amerian Irishman. Malcolm and Tony were taken, via a bar, to Norman's house where they met Sheila Harker, a Lancashire expat, who lookad after Norman's day to day administration.

Malcolm and Tony settled into the house where food and beds were available. An enormous joint of cooked ham had been left by one of Norman's friends and it took a sustained effort for the two boys to eat it before they went home.

 
Thursday 25 February 1999

Today, the boys started organising their actions. First, Malcolm rang his brother-in-law Mike Parsons who was living in Canada. He suggested that his son Christopher come from his home in Los Angeles to visit the solicitor with us.

Next, with Malcolm driving Norman's Lexis car, having checked that the insurance permitted it, they went to Mission Canyon Retreat where Norman was staying. They chatted with him to see how the land laid with him. He told them that Mary Ann had written to him asking to buy the house for $50,000 when it was worth $220,000. She had presented the letter to him to sign without making it clear what the contents were but luckily he spotted it. On being asked about the possibility of returning to England, he was categoric that he wished to stay in Santa Barbara where he had friends and also the weather was better. He also indicated that he wished to be buried with his first wife Molly when the time came. He advised that money was owed to Mel Theile of Life Net.

Back at Norman's house later, his mentor Kim came to visit. He expressed his concern at Mary Ann's actions and had already recommended that a Restraining Order be placed on her. He also considered that Norman should return to England. Later, friend Steve rang to see how things were progressing. Geri (Geraldine) Nelle also rang and asked to meet the next day as she had some cheques to collect. Sha also was of the opinion that Norman should return to England. Shiela Pridmore rang to see how things were going. Also Chris Parsons rang to say that he was willing to have Power of Attorney if it was required.

 
Friday 26 February 1999

Nephew Andrew Parker rang from Colorado at 07:30 to say that he was able to visit. Shiela Pridmore also rang later to confirm to us that Shiela Harker was both nurse and accountant to Norman. Norman's Investment Manager Mel Vogel rang at Norman's request to arrange a visit at 2pm that day.

Mary Ann called in at midday to invite Malcolm and Tony to lunch but they declined but took the opportunity to listen to her so story. She presented a letter of dismissal of Geri Nelle. She told of Kim using Norman's car and also said that he had warned her of a possible Restraining Order. She said that Malcolm and Tony had probably heard bad things about her but it was Norman who was to blame. They listened to her without comment and dedliberately did not get embroiled in any argument. Malcolm said that he and the family also thought badly of her but were prepared to talk to her in a civilised manner. At the end, Malcolm suggested that she leave Norman alone. She took it without comment, asked for a hug then left. Not much later Norman rang from the hospital to say that Mary Ann was there coercing him again.

Mel Vogel visited as arranged. He explained the various options for Power of Attorney. He also expressed his concern at Mary Ann's behaviour. Geri Nelle called in and returned Norman's paperwork. There was also a phone call from Bishop Crowther welcoming Malcolm and Tony and expressing his pleasure at the support from the family. After that, Malcolm and Tony went to visit Norman again and discussed his preferences. He neither wanted to return to England nor go into a Care Home. He wished to stay in his own home with some assistance. Despite Mary Ann's actions, he did not want a Restraining Order placed on her. Back at Norman's house again, Malcolm rang Mike Parsons to update him on what had been discussed.

 
Saturday 27 February 1999

Chris Parsons came to visit this day with his family also Andrew Parker with his family joined the party. Norman was collected from the care home and they all went to lunch at the seafood restaurant on the waterfront in Santa Barbara.

 
Sunday 28 February 1999

Tony and Malcolm made another visit to Norman and met with some of the staff who were looking after him. Later they took Norman for a drive around the area and took a look at the house he had built at 2322 Melrose Avenue. Norman's assistant Sheila Harker met them there. They also visited his friend Audrey who owned a lemon farm and had tea with her and her disabled adult son.

 
Monday 1 March 1999

Similar to the previous day, they took Norman out in the car and visited friends. Out of Norman's hearing, they expressed their deep concern over Mary Ann's behaviour towards him and said she should be kept away. Malcolm decided to have the locks on Norman's house changed so made the arrangements with a locksmith to come the next day.

 
Tuesday 2 March 1999

The locksmith came and changed the locks so Malcolm gave Norman the new keys when he and Tony made their last visit that day. Norman was most unhappy about the change of locks and said he would give a set of keys to Mary Ann. Tony and Malcolm returned to England later that day.

 
On one of the evenings that previous week, Norman had hosted a dinner party at the Roundhouse Restaraunt in Carpnteria. There was a big turnout of about twelve guests and to Malcolm's surprise, Mary Ann attended. During the course of the meal, she came round to Malcolm and presented him with with a sheaf of papers. These were copies of the daily notes that she had placed on Norman's breakfast table detailing all the things that he had done to offend her. Malcolm declined to accept them and told Mary Ann not to spoil a lovely occasion so she left him. She left the restaraunt soon after. In retrospect, Malcolm wished he had taken the papers to show the family exactly what she was trying to do.