Philip Smith

Philip Smith, of Santa Barbara, passed away on October 1. He was born in Hertfordshire, England on July 13, 1943, the only child of George and Mary Smith. He grew up in London and attended Gillespie Road Primary School and Parmiters Grammar School. After leaving school he had jobs working for an insurance company, a firm of accountants and at the Royal Opera House. At 19, he got a job as a reporter working for the Stockport County Express in Lancashire. He spent a few months there and was then transferred to the County Express in Wilmslow, Cheshire. At 24, he began working for the Evening Echo in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.  At 30, he moved to America, working as a staff reporter for the National Enquirer. He left after two years, and spent the rest of his career freelancing for the Enquirer. His interests included sailing, hiking and reading. He was married to his wife of 47 years, Barbara, who passed away on July 12. 2023. She meant the world to him. He leaves behind Barbara’s two children, Glenn, his partner Oonagh, their daughter Fiona, and Lisa, and her husband Ronnie. His ashes will be buried next to Barbara’s at the Riverbank Cemetery in Stowe, Vermont.