Pen collector’s last hoorah
Signing cheques is the easiest way to steal a pen, according to serialoffender Earl Smith.
Smith has been collecting pens for over 30 years. Some were volunteered, some were bought, but the 69-year-old admits many were ‘‘pinched’’. His collection numbers over 6000.
‘‘If I went into a bank, and in those days it was all cheques, if I saw the lady using a nice pen, and of course I’d already have a pen, I’d ask to borrow hers and then just not give it back,’’ Smith said from his home in Christchurch’s Heathcote Valley.
‘‘So yeah, I would say a few of my pens had been pinched, I hate to admit that.’’
In 2016, Smith was diagnosed with cancer, had his stomach removed and was given the all clear. Seven weeks ago, the cancer returned and this time it was terminal.
He rapidly lost 35 kilograms and was so insecure about his figure he did not want his photograph taken. He said he had cancer in ‘‘a few places’’.
‘‘I don’t know how long I’ve got, probably not too long.’’
On Sunday, his family organised a surprise exhibition of his collection at Kadett cafe in Space Academy. About 70 family and friends turned out to see what a 30-year pen collection looked like.
‘‘I only found out on Sunday I had so many. It wasn’t until they were all sorted and put onto boards, I sat back and couldn’t believe it,’’ he said.
Until the exhibition, Smith’s pens were stored in shoeboxes in a garage where he stored his motorhome.
Smith’s son, Rick Smith, said about 150 hours went into sorting and displaying the 6000 pens
‘‘Him and Pauline [Earl’s wife] have been going through a lot and we wanted to do something nice for them,’’ he said.
‘‘When he first arrived he was pretty grumpy, he’s not a big fan of surprises, and the collection was pretty overwhelming I think.’’
Kadett offered the space for free, and Joinery By Design created the panels and displays for the pens.
Earl Smith had been a selfemployed builder since the early 1970s. His company built homes, medical centres and did renovations across Christchurch. He stopped working only in January, after his latest diagnosis.
He was considering going through chemotherapy again, but said it was ‘‘just so hard on your partner’’.
‘‘The oncologist said we can get you survive a bit longer, but I mean, it’s really just slowing down the inevitable,’’ Smith said.
Reduced chemotherapy was an option, as were new trials that his oncologist said he could be eligible for.
‘‘Some of the trials coming through are quite successful for different cancers, so I came out of [our last oncologist appointment] very positive.
‘‘I mean, I’m OK with it. I don’t think my wife is terribly happy obviously. She can’t do anything, she just has to watch me go, but she is the best nurse in the world.’’
As for the pens? Rick Smith hoped a museum or gallery might consider displaying his father’s collection, a veritable history of Kiwi writing history.
''I would say a few of my pens had been pinched, I hate to admit that."
Earl Smith