Gavin John Phillips
Gavin John Phillips (1946 – 2024) was born in Donaghadee, County Down, Northern Ireland to Arthur and Norah Phillips on 15th October 1946. When Gavin was a baby his mother travelled across Europe with his twin sisters, Wendy and Carole to Hamburg where his father was stationed. Returning to Ireland the family lived in Larne and around Bangor and Holywood.
After leaving boarding school in Dublin, Gavin travelled to England picking fruit over the summers. He moved permanently to England to work as a draughtsman and then became a landscape gardener, working around Bushy, Stanmore, Hatch End, Pinner and Ruislip.
When Gavin met Tim’s mother and her daughter Gina, they initially rented a flat in Bushey Heath. After Tim was born, they bought a house in School Lane.
Gavin was a keen sportsman. He enjoyed athletics and played rugby for his school, Old Wesley Rugby Club, and as a winger in the first team for Sudbury Court Rugby Club, playing for over five decades. Gavin potholed in Wales, completed the Three Peaks Challenge in 24 hours and once did a bungee jump. Gavin with his family often visited Gavin’s relatives in Ireland as well as holidaying in France, Spain and Sweden.
As a proud Irishman, Gavin was a consummate story-teller and consumed Guiness at every opportunity!
