Phil was a very longstanding member of Park Exiles, so long that the team name was still Rosslyn Park when he joined. He was an automatic pick, as his wide knowledge and Oxford University education and life experiences made him a high scorer, being the first Park Exiles player to nail an individual full house in a League match!
He kept his quiz knowledge sharp by setting a superb Thursday evening pub quiz at his local pub, The Arab Boy, in Putney. It had themed rounds and occasionally a rebus style cryptic picture round. Latterly, as he slowed down, he would write and present quizzes at local OAP homes in the Putney area.
Phil was from Sheffield, but loved Putney, and one of his passions was its history , particularly its cemeteries.
In his varied career, he was a sales rep for one company that meant that he travelled throughout Europe for the firm. He also worked as a BBC Radio producer!
Phil was an addict of The Guardian cryptic crossword, a tough puzzle to put it mildly. We would often chat on the telephone or text message, with him often solving a clue correctly, but not knowing how the cryptic part worked. I was always honoured that someone with crossword skills vastly greater than mine would ask me if I had any idea? Thankfully, I find reverse engineering from the answer to how the clue works easier than finding the answer in the first place, something that Phil excelled in.
Jon Porcella
August 2025