Editing Norman Wisdom (section)

== Personal life ==
Wisdom was married twice. His first marriage was to Doreen Brett in 1941. By 1944, they had separated when Doreen gave birth to a son, Michael (born 1944), fathered by Albert Gerald Hardwick, a telephone engineer.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}} The marriage was formally dissolved in 1946.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}

In 1947, he married his second wife, Freda Isobel Simpson;<ref name="TelegraphObit" /> together they had two children: [[Nicholas Wisdom|Nicholas]] (born 1953), who later played [[first-class cricket]] for [[Sussex County Cricket Club|Sussex]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Nicholas Wisdom |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/34/34004/34004.html |website=CricketArchive |access-date=8 July 2020}}</ref> and Jacqueline (born 1954).<ref>{{Cite news|date=23 December 1954|title=INTRODUCING 'JACKY'—TO WISDOM|pages=1|work=[[Manchester Evening News]]|issue=26687|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000272/19541223/013/0001|url-access=subscription|access-date=16 February 2022|via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref> The couple divorced in 1969,<ref name="TelegraphObit" /> with Wisdom being granted full custody of their children.<ref name=":0" /> Freda later died in [[Brighton]] in 1992.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

A well-known and well-loved resident of the Isle of Man, Wisdom lived for 27 years in a house in [[Andreas, Isle of Man|Andreas]] called Ballalough (Manx for "lake farm", and also a playful pun on the English phrase "belly laugh"). He was active in charitable causes, including support for orphanages in Albania.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1251406.stm|title=Sir Norman Wisdom: Clown Prince of Albania|date=30 March 2001|access-date=25 February 2019}}</ref> In 2005, he appeared in a music video for the [[Manx people|Manx]] girl group Twisted Angels, for their single "LA", in support of the local charity Project 21.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/isle_of_man/4275924.stm|title=Sir Norman 'launches punk career'|date=23 September 2005 |work=BBC News |access-date=10 October 2010}}</ref>

In the 1960s, he was involved in a high-profile legal case, Wisdom v Chamberlain (1968), when the [[Inland Revenue]] pursued him for tax on profits from the sale of silver bullion, which he had bought out of concern over the devaluation of the [[Pound sterling|pound]]. Wisdom argued that it was a personal investment, but the court ruled it was a trading venture, and therefore subject to [[income tax]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Wisdom v Chamberlain (Inspector of Taxes) (8 November 1968) |date=21 February 2017 |url=http://swarb.co.uk/wisdom-v-chamberlain-inspector-of-taxes-ca-8-nov-1968/ |website=Swarb.co.uk}}</ref>

===Interests===
Wisdom was a lifelong supporter and former board member of [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]]. He also had a fondness for [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] and [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/the-sweeper-my-teams-norman-wisdom-everton-and-newcastle-1087827.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220621/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/the-sweeper-my-teams-norman-wisdom-everton-and-newcastle-1087827.html |archive-date=21 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=The Sweeper: My Teams Norman Wisdom Everton and Newcastle |first1=Clive |last1=White |first2 = Nick |last2 =Harris |newspaper=The Independent |location=London, UK |date=17 April 1999 |access-date=10 October 2010 }}</ref> He enjoyed [[golf]],<ref name="BBC retires" /> and was a member of the [[Grand Order of Water Rats]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gowr.co.uk/all-water-rats/v/119 |title=Sir Norman Wisdom |website=Grand Order of Water Rats}}</ref> He also held honorary membership in the [[Winkle Club]], a charitable organization in [[Hastings]], [[East Sussex]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://winkleclub.webs.com/famouswinklers.htm |title=Famous Winklers |website=Hastings Winkle Club |access-date=7 February 2010 }}</ref>

An enthusiast of classic cars, Wisdom’s collection included a 1956 [[Bentley S1#Bentley Continental|Bentley S1 Continental R Type fastback]], which he first acquired in 1961 and repurchased in the late 1980s.'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/685318.stm|title=Wisdom's classic car farewell|work=[[BBC News]]|date=21 March 2000|access-date=27 April 2013}}</ref>''' Following his divorce in 1969, he bought a [[Shelby Cobra 427]], CSX3206, while in New York, and kept it until 1986, when he sold it to another car collector in Brighton. Until he failed a [[Department of Transport (Isle of Man)|Department of Transport]] fitness-to-drive test due to age and mental health decline, he also drove a 1987 [[Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit]] and a [[Jaguar S-Type (1963)|Jaguar S-Type]], both of which were sold in September 2005.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

In 1963, he commissioned a new motor yacht. The {{convert|94|ft}} hull and superstructure were constructed in Spain for £80,000, then brought to [[Shoreham-by-Sea]], [[West Sussex]], for fitting out. After three years of customisation and sea trials, the vessel—named M/Y Conquest—was valued at £1.25 million and made available for charter at £6,000 per month. Wisdom later sold it, admitting he was "no sailor".<ref name=GuardWordsWis />