PARK HOME RESIDENTS ACTION ALLIANCE. (PHRAA)
TRIBUTE TO MALCOLM SAMWAYS CHAIRMAN….. PHRAA… “2002 – 2017”
It is with a heavy heart that we have to announce the passing on the 4th April 2017 of our dear friend, and colleague Malcolm, a founder member and Chairman of PHRAA since we started in April 2002.
PHRAA was formed as a direct result of our once beautiful, peaceful park home site being purchased by a new owner, who we soon realised was, to put it nicely, not nice man who set about bullying, abusing, harassing and intimidating all the existing elderly residents, declaring that he was going to get us all off his park. A quest he continues to this day.
Witnessing many of our once happy community being constantly abused until they were terrified and reduced to living in constant fear of this man, who has no compassion or respect for any residents property or welfare, resulting, in their being driven out of their homes, we decided that the time had come to stand up to this man, as Malcolm always put it.. “Stand up and be counted”. As he did, along with his colleagues, right to the end, and so, as there was very little help available to either ourselves, or the many other park home residents in similar situations nationwide, after much consultation with like- minded park home owners PHRAA was formed to fight for the right of all park home owners, to a fair deal.
Our small team of entirely voluntary dedicated workers, consisting of Malcolm as Chairman, Colin, as Consultant/ President, Joan, as Treasurer/ Consultantand Ron, General Secretary and editor PHRAA NEWS, work many hours a day offering advice etc for any park home owners having problems with their park owners or local authorities. Malcolm, besides being Chairman was an experienced advisor/consultant, always ready to offer, at all times of day and night, what help, consolation and advice he could to any distraught resident who contacted him. Nobody was ever turned away.
Our work for PHRAA took us on many journeys to various parks around the country at the request of park homeowners and Local Authorities, both by car, usually Malcolm’s, in which we clocked up many thousands of miles. Also by rail to London, (Westminster) where, together with Colin, we attended regular meetings of the Parliamentary All Party Working Group for the Welfare of Park Home Owners, also meetings with the Welsh Assembly in Cardiff and the Scottish Government at Edinburgh and with Joan, the Isle of Wight. Malcolm was always at the forefront of fighting the case of the residents of Silver Poplars parks against the continued indifference of this Local Authority towards carrying out their responsibilities towards the residents, which still exists today.
PHRAA owes a huge debt of gratitude to Malcolm who refused to submit to this park owner’s barbaric abuse and bullying. As our Local Councillor commented to me during our conversation, a couple of days ago, which I felt summed up Malcolm perfectly. “Malcolm fought hard for what he believed in”. Who could ask for anything more from anyone??
We are sure anyone who had the good fortune to have known Malcolm will miss him and his distinct Yorkshire accent as we do. Thanks for everything Malcolm and rest in peace. I know I speak for the whole of the PHRAA team of Colin, Joan and Ron when we say it’s been a real pleasure to know you. Our sincere thoughts go out to Sheila, his wife and his lovely family who will miss him terribly. God Bless you Malcolm. From your best friends Ron and Maria Joyce for and on behalf of the PHRAA team. April 2017.. Not forgetting “Bruce”