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Last updated December 7th 2003

Max and Patricia Farnham

The Farnham's first appeared in Brookside when they moved into No 7 in September 1990. The family members have changed a lot since then but when they first arrived the family consisted of Max and Patricia Farnham along with their young son Thomas and live in nanny Margaret Clemence.

Max had previously been married to Susannah with whom he had two children Mathew and Emily. This was a constant worry to Patricia as she feared that one day he might go back to Susannah as she knew Max still had strong feelings for his former wife.

Max a bit of a snob so was non too pleased when his new neighbours the Dixons arrive with an old noisy van and proceeded to cover their front garden with what Max regarded as junk. Ron Dixon later caused Max more upset when he erected an unsightly fence, and his son Tony vandalised Max’s new shed.

More trouble lay ahead for the Farnham's when they discovered they were on a credit blacklist due to the previous occupiers Sinbad and Jimmy running up huge debts with a mail order company. Max was finding money tight as he struggled to keep up maintenance payments to Susannah while Margaret insisted on a pay rise. He thought had found a solution when he succeeded in getting a job working for the Electricity Board but later realised it was a mistake and handed in his notice.

Now that Patricia was the bread winner she decided to try to better here career in advertising by accepting a job in London on a month’s trial. Max was not happy with Patricia working in London and sought help from his friend Geoffrey a Round Table colleague. Just as Patricia decided to accept her Job on a permanent basis Max heard from Geoffrey that he had a job for him and after a desperate dash to London managed to persuade her to turn down her job and stay in Liverpool.

Later when Patricia refused to accompany Max to a Round Table social event his friend Geoffrey arranged for Susannah to take her place and play the part of Patricia. Sussanah became a more frequent visitor to the Farnham house on the pretence of letting Mathew and Emily see more of their father. Patricia knew their was an ulterior motive and told Susannah to stay away, only to be told by Susannah that she could have Max back any time she wanted.

More trouble loomed when Patricia had to work away one night, and phoned home only to have Susannah answer the phone leaving Patricia frantic with worry. On her return home Patricia argued with Max, refused to believe that he had slept on the sofa and threw him out. Max was reunited with Patricia when she was diagnosed as having breast cancer and asked him back to help her through the ordeal.

Margaret was the cause of more trouble when Max returned from a night out and discovered that she had slept with boyfriend Derek while neglecting Thomas who had been sick. Without consulting Patricia Max fired Margaret and replaced her with a new nanny Anna Wolska.

Patricia had more on her mind when she decided to start up on her own as a public relations consultant. Meanwhile Max had cause to celebrate when he was made a partner at Fletchers. Over the next few months Patricia had more surprises when first her father David Crosby turned up on her doorstep followed soon after by her mother Jean.

Max was not so fortunate, when he heard from Susannah that she planned moving to America to live with her new boyfriend, taking Mathew and Emily with her. At first Max refused to allow Susannah to take the kids with her, but agreed after she reassured him that her new boyfriend would never take his place as father to Mathew and Emily. Despite her reassurance Max found he couldn't bear being parted from his children so one day flew to America and snatched them back.

Susannah outraged by his actions turned up at the Farnham's determined to get them back. At first Max and Susannah argued, but when she suggested that Max could go back with her and be part of Mathew and Emily’s life again , he was stunned by her suggestion. Patricia happened to be away at the time so Max offered to let Susannah stay the night, during the next few hours the inevitable happened, Max ended up sleeping with Susannah.

The next morning David let himself into the Farnham's house and was horrified to discover Susannah had stayed the night, and wasted no time in telling Patricia when she returned home. This was the last straw for Patricia, she moved out for a while before getting David to change the locks on the house, when she moved back in and once again threw Max out having decided to divorce him.

A few months later Patricia had a change of heart and decided to forgive Max and take him back. Max was very keen for them to remarry and to persuade Patricia he arranged for a trip in a Hot air baloon which whisked them both up and away watched by the other residents of Brookside Close.

Patricia was delighted when she became pregnant again but her joy was spoilt when she discovered her new baby was likely to be born with Downs Syndrome. For a while Patricia considered abortion but after talking with Max and seeing other children with similar disabilities, they decide to continue with the pregnancy.

Meanwhile Max has decided to go into partnership with Barry Grant and open a restaurant. After the birth of their new baby daughter Alice, Max seemed reluctant to spend any time with her, arriving home from the restaurant late each day so he wouldn’t have to see her. Max eventually confessed to Patricia that he was having difficulty coming to terms with the fact his daughter was handicapped but with some gentle coaxing from Patricia he eventually discovered he really did love his daughter.

With a young baby to look after Patricia had given up working as a public relations consultant but still wanted to run a business of her own, with this in mind she decided to open a gift shop on Brookside Parade “ The Gift Box “.

Later Max had financial problems when Barry Grant decided he wanted to sell his share of the restaurant leaving Max to find a new partner, luckily David Crosby loaned him enough money to buy Barry’s share himself.

Susannah returned to England after splitting up with her boyfriend, Patricia worried that she might lose Max introduced Susannah to Dil whom she got on with really well. So well in fact that Susannah moved in with him, leaving Max consumed with Jealousy, especially when he thought Susannah might go to live in Dubai with him. Max was relieved when she told him that she wouldn’t be leaving, although it was obvious she wanted to get back together with him, despite Patricia.

Later while driving through an unfamiliar area Max stopped and asked a woman for directions, unfortunately for Max the woman was a prostitute who the police were watching at the time. Despite his explanation Max was arrested for soliciting, which he tried to keep secret from Patricia.

David read about the case in the newspaper and wasted no time in telling Patricia who refused to believe Max when he tried to explain what had happened. Patricia decided to go and stay with her mother in France leaving Max to face the court alone, however Susannah was very willing to give Max all the support he needed. With Susannah’s help Max was acquitted in court, but he felt very let down by Patricia’s lack of support so when she returned from France Max decided to leave her and move in with Susannah.

Patricia tried in vain to win him back but eventually gave up and moved away to live in France

Continued.........