Most of you will know by now that Phill passed away on 24 August, at the cruel young age of 57.Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this really sad time.
A number of members from the Society attended Phill’s Celebration of Life held outside, in a delightful English country garden at Groombridge on 23 September. It was a very moving occasion and was a fitting and appropriate send off for Phill.
For most of us at the Society, Phill kept his prestigious talents under a bushel; he was both a Degree and Masters holder, an innovator, leader and inspirer in his BT career which spanned more than 3 decades.
At the celebration of life we heard from number of friends and family about Phill’s appetite for life, whether it was computing, bodging, being a DJ, visiting far flung countries or generally having a go at something different.
Clearly he held family very close and his father in law summed up Phill in a single sentence – that Phill made sure he wrung every last drop of living out of life. He was not wrong- Phill turned his hand to working with wood, leather and metal
Phill will be a massive loss to the Society; until his illness he was Membership and Competitions Secretary, lead communicator with the membership, Website developer and fixer and expert on anything that involved a computer.
Phill pulled together a lot of policies and procedures that allow the Society to function as well as it does.
For many in the Society, Phill would have been one of the first points of contact for new members; without his diligence, efficiency and engagement, we would not have the membership we have today.
Phill represented what the Society stands for – he was welcoming, engaging, self-deprecating, but he knew how to have fun and he made the most of life. He was also a talented cutter. We miss him terribly and the Committee will decide over the next few meetings how best to preserve Phill’s memory.
Donations, if desired, in memory of Philip may be made to Brain Tumour Research Charity and sent via phillippiddell.muchloved.com
Some nice photos of Phill from the Nationals 2019 and a tool sharpening event at Plumpton