Phill was loved by his family and respected by friends and colleagues alike. A strong, proud, hardworking man, full of fun and laughter, who loved the good times, a sparkle to his personality, he never missed a chance to make a joke and have some fun, he blessed us with his strength and kindness, making this world a brighter place.
 
Let’s now reflect with Phill on his life with us, and pay tribute to him, returning those treasured memories with love and respect.
 
It was 11th February 1950 in Nottingham that Phill was born the youngest son to his parents Cliff and Elsie with the family completed by elder brother Richard.
 
The family owned and ran a greengrocer’s shop and florist at the top of Derby Road, later in a change of occupation, their parents moved intothe Rose and Crown Pub on Alfreton Road.
 
Their grandparents ran the George Inn only just around the corner; therefore, the two brothers spent their formative years with an early influence of pubs, beer and not forgetting aBacardi and coke.
 
These were the happy and carefree days of his childhood, plenty of adventure and a little mischief, Phill and Richard cheeky lads together, definitely little rascals.
 
He attended the Douglas Junior and later the Cottesmore School for his education; perhaps a lad who was pleased when his school years were over, there was always an excuse for some time off.
 
The brothers decided to have a go at smoking a pipe, the pubs in those years filled with tobacco and smoke.
 
They had a pipe, filled it with tobacco and leaning in towards the chimney of the pub, they were sucking and blowing trying to get the pipe smoking.
 
The pipe was taken down on to the local Radford Park sitting on a bench trying to light the pipe they were spotted by a traditional Park keeper in uniform, together with his cycle. 
 
 
 
 
Rather than telling the lads off he gave words of advice; pack the tobacco in tight turn the pipeupside down and then light it – After that there was no problem, both able to enjoy that Condor moment.
 
The “Thruppenny Rush” on a Saturday morning at the local cinema brought excitement; the brothers never without their cap guns and stink bombs, off to watch the latest Roy Rogers Cowboy release.
 
Firing the cap guns, joining in the gunfight, all was well until the film was abruptly stopped and a voice was heard to say “Put the guns away or the film will stop”
 
He did enjoy pitting his wits against the one-armed bandit in the small café on Ilkeston Road.
 
Phill enjoyed sport, playing Rugby at school as a hooker, both brothers being stocky lads in those days.
 
On completing his education Phill became a Coach Builder working for Simpson and Slater of Bobbersmill.
 
He learned the skills, knowledge and experienceof the trade able to produce finished work to a very high standard, including body work, panel beating, repairs, respraying and even customising cars.
 
Such was the quality of his work he completed the coachwork on the funeral hearse used by local company A.W. Lymn. He was fastidious in his work, on a test drive he laid under a board in the rear of the hearse listening for knocks or rattles.
 
A chance for a little fun, Phill lifted up his hand and waved to people as the hearse drove along, who knows what anyone must have thought.
 
On another occasion Phill drove a hearse returning it to a Funeral Directors in Melton Mowbray. Picking Richard up on the way, the pair decided to stop off at a local pub on the way for a drink.
 
Richard laid down in the back of the hearse and as they arrived in the pub car park, lifted himself up rather stiffly, no doubt giving one or two of the customers a fright.
 
 
The role allowed him to further his great love for performance cars including those at the higher end of the market. One customer brought in a Maserati which developed a rattle at 90mph.Picking Richard up who shared a similar interest, the car just had to be test driven to investigate the cause of the rattle at well above 90mph
 
Another customer the Managing Director of Cottee and Edwards, his performance Jaguar was taken for a test ride. The brothers had it airborne driving over the old Dunkirk Flyover,which was a little more angular in its construction.
 
He purchased a Ford Mexico from a former rally driver, customising the car which was completely resprayed in jet black. The original colour could not be found even the floor panels, boot and engine bay were resprayed.
 
A chance opportunity brought racing tyres which were fitted on the car certainly illegal on the roads – That car went like a rocket !!
 
In later years Phill entered into a business partnership producing wooden gift boxes for companies such as Boots. The great demandresulted in Phill working seven days a week.The company made literally thousands of boxes for such items as ladies and gents gift sets.
 
The final role for Phill was working for N and J Pitt fitting Taxi meters generally in Nottingham yet he also travelled around the country to Scotland and Brighton on the south coast.
 
It was from this role that Phill retired at around 60 years.
 
In the years when he was single, he became a CB radio enthusiast and later a Radio Ham broadcasting around the world, he had the rather large aerials and all the equipment.
 
He did live for a time in a flat at Stockhill above a pet shop, from which a Tarantula had escaped. Richard was visiting on one occasion being given words of caution – If you see a spider it’s a Tarantula from downstairs
 
Phill met Carol introduced through a social circle of friends including Richard and wife Muriel, with an attraction and after only two weeks of a courtship, Phill decided to propose to Carol.
 
However, they were due to enjoy a holiday break in Paris with Richard and Muriel, Phillchose his moment at the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
 
There was no pressure, “If you don`t say yes, I’llthrow you off the top”
 
The couple later married on 9th November 1991 at the Basford Registry Office with a lovely reception held afterwards at the Park Yacht Club Nottingham.
 
It was to be a long lasting successful and loving partnership over 28 years of married life together. Phill was a late starter at 43 years of age in parenting, very proud to welcome their daughter Sophie into the family.
 
The couple resided initially on Station Road Carlton moving on to Rainworth which remained the family home for twenty-two years. Phill now faced health challenges the couple finally settling on Covedale Road Sherwood which remains the family home today.
 
Family became so important to Phill, in the earlier years prior to meeting Carol, Richard`s family became Phill`s family, starting to believehe would never have a family of his own.
 
He developed a very close bond with Sophie especially while Carol worked. Phill loved their time together visiting Rufford Park or Sherwood Pines a chance for good fun, a coffee and cakewhich now returns many treasured memories.
 
A hug always included a tickle always one for fun and games photographs together pulling a funny face or gritting his teeth, their time together filled with fun and laughter.
 
He became a wonderful father.
 
He held a great passion for motor racing;together with Richard in their younger days he loved the British Grand Prix. Most weekends they visited a racing circuit in the UK and theEaster Bank Holiday allowed three circuits to be visited in one weekend.
 
He loved motor racing as a sport, Formula One,Saloon Car Racing, Rallying and the Motorcycle Grand Prix.
 
There have been so many visits to locations such as Brands Hatch, Silverstone, Mallory Park and Donnington on so many occasions.
The historical museum was a regular visit at Donnington, so much so that the pair got to know the owner of the racetrack, who allowed them to race around the circuit before it was tarmacked.
 
The team of the day was the Lotus John Player Special. Phill furnished and maintained the team motor home, which was refurbished every year which allowed him to be allocated Grand Prix race tickets.
 
This allowed the brothers entry into the event and pass through the barriers into the pits. Theyspent time and were photographed with Colin Chapman the designer and owner of the Lotus, able to meet and chat with famous racing drivers such as Mario Andretti, Emerson Fittipaldi, James Hunt and Graham Hill.
 
In later years Phill loved the modern reality-based motor racing games; bucket seat,steering wheel and pedals. Several nights aweek he was up until midnight racing at the circuits of his choice. He often related what his lap times were at a variety of race circuits.
 
Holidays were another great passion he loved skiing having taught himself to Ski in France. He was never daunted whatever the run. He took off and was gone, naturally there was a little competition between the two brothers for the first place over the finishing line
 
Skiing holidays especially at Mammoth in California were a favourite.
 
A holiday here was enjoyed with Carol, Sophie, Richard, Muriel, Necia, Calum, Lesley and Iris.
 
Another was at Whistler near Vancouver a great skiing experience where on the run down to Blackcomb, Phill and Richard discovered Dusty`s Bar.
 
They made delicious food with a very special seasoning, which really was so nice. It was named Butt Rub which Phill and Richard found absolutely hilarious.
 
When Skiing the family played Pictionary perhaps similar characters Phill and Richard only had to draw two lines and they had got the answer. There were those who swore blind they were cheating – Not the case they just knew what the other was thinking !
 
He is remembered as the only man refused entry into a shop because he had a bird on his head.
 
Phill in Creekside Canada wore a cap and quite unexpectedly, a bird landed on his head which decided to stay for a while, therefore the shop refused him entry !
 
He maintained his love for Rugby League and Union, now able to enjoy the sport on television having played at school he now loved the domestic and international games, especially the excitement of the Six Nations competition.
 
He held a great eclectic taste in music; such a wide taste ranging from Pink Floyd, ELO, Black Sabbath, Guns and Roses to Santana, Bocelli and Pavarotti, some of which we share today in tribute to Phill.
 
At one stage he held a huge collection of music CD`s which eventually were placed on to a hard drive.
 
He just loved anything with a good guitar solo.
 
He owned the best Hi Fi System with top notch equalisers and speakers. He always ensured he purchased the very best, producing an incredible sound effect.
 
There was always a little competition between the two brothers, be that the size of the television screen or even a camera lens, one had to purchase the next bigger and more recent model.
 
He enjoyed many nights in, the drink for Phillwas a pint of Pale Ale or Lager, a glass of White Wine or a Bacardi and Coke – That was sometimes even a triple.
 
In recent times he continued the love for Bacardi and Coke if anyone asked it was mostly coke!
 
Phill faced the challenge of Motor Neurone Disease through which he remained strong steadfast and determined now unable to travel abroad.
He thoroughly enjoyed holidays in the UK loving to be by the sea at Deal, Norfolk, Wales and Lancashire the long flat promenades allowed easy access using a wheelchair.
 
He did enjoy a day out visiting East Kirkby in Lincolnshire the excitement of an original Lancaster Bomber taxiing with the four Merlin engines running at full throttle later driving on to Woodhall Spa to the battle of Britain memorial Flight.
 
It was here that Phill was refused entry – The battery in his wheelchair was judged to be an explosive risk.
 
Phill remained unchanged from his youth; a happy, cheerful, go lucky lad, a sparkle to his personality which lit up the room on so many occasions, nice and jolly, one of life’scharacters, bringing so many smiles.
 
Phill was one in a million, I know that Carol and Sophie count themselves as the luckiest of people to have shared their lives with Phill.
 
He will be remembered as a much loved and sadly missed Brother, Husband, Father and of course to many a great friend.
 
He was that very special person, who will share a place in all your hearts forever – Loved and missed so very much.
 
In memory of Phill may this be a celebration of life, love and happiness