It is with regret that we mourn the loss of one of our former Regional Organisers for R25. Along with his wife Pearl, Phil led the Kent Region for some 16 years and in 2018 the pair were made honorary members for their contributions to Club activities.
On Monday, 24 October, seven Porsches formed a cortege as a tribute to Phil on his final journey to Charing Crematorium where many more members joined us.
One of his first full-time jobs was servicing razors, before working in a motorcycle repair workshop and then gaining an apprenticeship as a car mechanic for a BMC dealer. He eventually bought his own garage as his mobile mechanic business had become so popular and he was known for honesty and good workmanship.
He raced motorcycles and then Minis with a fair amount of success along the way. This could have ended in disaster after he lost control of his Mini, rolled down a bank ending upside down in water. Fortunately, people were on hand to release him from the car and administer first aid to him before the medics arrived.
Other hobbies included flying model airplanes, photography, wine making, keeping fish and a bird aviary, clay pigeon shooting, writing poetry and establishing a dating agency with Pearl after they had met in 1987 when their first date was a trip to Le Mans.
Pearl suggested that they should buy a Porsche having been smitten after following one on her journey to work! Having ordered their silver Porsche Boxster S in 2000, they immediately joined PCGB before taking delivery in March 2001. Then in 2016 he fulfilled his long-held dream of owning a yellow 911 Carrera with shiny black wheels.
Phil and Pearl organised many memorable fun-filled events including foreign trips, show and shines held at Kentish Castles, club nights at various venues, drives and meals, plus activities such as hiring a barge on the river Wey Canal and ‘messing about on the river’ from Grove Ferry Inn (for an afternoon tea or a chance to eat chocolate), mid-week runs, visits to engineering companies plus activities such as curling and archery.
He was kind, generous, friendly to anyone, a little mischievous and had a great sense of fun. He will be fondly remembered and sadly missed by all who knew him.
We offer our sincere condolences to his wife Pearl and family members.