Philip, Gardening Volunteer

Phillip was born in 1948, the eldest of three children and was brought up in Wood Green, where his late Father had one of the first medical practises in the newly formed NHS.  

 On finishing his education at the JFS in Camden Town, the family emigrated to Australia as Ten Pound Poms, where Phillip started his long career in Sales. The family returned after a year as Phillip’s Father felt that the UK was best for the family. On return Phillip started working in the family shoe business, rising from salesman to Area Manager in short order. After several years Phillip moved into other sales roles, culminating in the Automotive Industry for his last 34 years of working life. During the late 70’s and early 80’s Phillip emigrated to South Africa, where he worked on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange as an arbitrage dealer. On his return to England, with changes in how the Stock Exchange was run in the mid 70’s, it was difficult to get back into the London Stock Market, so a friend of the family suggested coming into the automotive industry.  

Specialising initially in fleet sales for a prestige brand, Phillip finally retired four years ago at the young age of 71, as Health and Safety Officer, First Aider and Fire Marshall.  

Not content in stopping work, Phillip still carries out some of those duties at his golf club in Radlett. He also helps out here at Willesden Cemetery not only in gardening, but liaising between the volunteers and maintenance staff on health and safety matters.  

Besides golf, Phillip’s hobbies are photography, walking and gardening, not only here at Willesden, but also at Bentley Museum in Stanmore.  

 Once asked why he volunteers at Willesden, Phillip replied that it was important to tend those graves where family no longer come, just to show that the memory of that person is still alive and thought of. Indeed, to tend those graves where no one has been in many years, is an honour and a privilege.