MIKE PHILLIPS (CWE - HORSEFERRY HOUSE)

[Alan Grove]

I was so sorry to receive the news about Mike. I was fortunate to work under him for much of my Directorate/DTels career.

I first met Mike when he was a member of the board that interviewed me for my Home Office post in 1983. I discovered later that he came away from the interview with the impression that I was an expert on UHF Quasi-sync systems. I came away believing that he was a computer expert. So we both got it wrong!

Nonetheless, on taking up my post in June 1983 I joined Mike's MR3 group in the UHF Planning section under Dave Sharrocks. Others have described Mike's management style here and I find it difficult to add more, other than to say he was a joy to work for and always very supportive. He had the ability to make you feel that you were valued.

With the various upheavals that we were subjected to in later years I moved to other departments but Mike was always there to help if needed. Life came full circle when I spent the last months of my career in Mike's RFCPU section prior to my early retirement in 1998. Even then he kept in touch, visiting me in Sussex on occasions and of course exchanging Christmas cards each year.

In late 2019 there was a particularly nasty incident very close to where I had lived in Sussex. Unaware that I had moved away before it happened, Mike got in touch just to make sure I was okay. That's the sort of person he was.

God bless you and your family, Mike. Rest in Peace.

I'm lucky to have known you

Alan Grove

[Steven Cole]

I have been notified by Peter Bridgeman that Mike's funeral is to be held on Wednesday 30th October 2024,12:00hrs at Croydon Crematorium, Mitcham Road, Croydon, CR9 3AT.

Following the service the wake will be held at Whitgift Care Home, Whitgift House, 76 Brighton Road, South Croydon, Surrey, CR2 6AB.

Donations can be made here.

All are welcome

[Brian Hill]

Sad to hear by telephone today of the passing of Mike Phillips.
I first came under Mike’s influence when promoted to one of the WARC conversion teams in 1985. He remained my manager right up until the days of RFCPU and my retirement in late 2000.

Always a man who listened, I recall mentioning to him at one stage that I seemed to be receiving or inheriting some rather difficult problems and situations that needed to be resolved. That was when he smiled and admitted that he used me as his ‘Secret Weapon’ for difficult customers. He then explained that he believed that any person who had worn a uniform would always find an affinity with another who also had that experience, whether it was a former, or current arrangement. Consequently, as we dealt with uniformed services as a department, why not use that characteristic? He was right of course, and that to me was an excellent piece of character reading that seemed to work on several occasions.
Others have placed better words than mine on Mike as both a manager, friend, and for me, sometimes a counsellor in difficult times; all I can add is ‘Rest in Peace’.

My condolences to his family.

Brian Hill

[Steven Cole]

Posted on behalf of John Leary

I had the pleasure of having Mike Phillips as my line manage for a period of time in the late 1970’ to early 1980’s when as a newly promoted Senior Wireless engineer I joined his Headquarters engineering branch and was tasked with the responsibility for producing all of the WARC hilltop site fixed equipment specifications. Along with other duties, Mike also line managed Ron Barrel who as my opposite number wrote all of the WARC mobile equipment specs.

Mike was an absolute delight to have as a line manager. He was approachable, never flustered, technically knowledgeable and widely experienced within DTels and in Industry. From my point of view his light touch management style suited my preference of working with the minimum of supervision. As the specifications evolved, Mike always provided both timely and helpful comments and suggestions to improve them. Together we achieved the goal of finalising the specifications on time which then allowed DTels to commence the tendering and procurement of the equipment from Industry.

Mike was a collector. At Horseferry House, he had a long line of grey filing cabinets in his office that housed the most comprehensive set of DTels documents and reports that I had ever seen. For a specification writer like me, that resource proved to be a treasure trove of information that I could draw upon whenever I needed it. Mike was most generous in providing access to the information and had an encyclopaedic knowledge of where a required information source rested within his archive. He also collected vintage radios which he stored in an Anderson Shelter in the Back Garden of his home. I never saw it but we did talk often about his collection especially the maritime communication receivers that he owned.

I moved away from Mike’s Branch on a sideways transfer to Field Services in December 1983 and later had another Headquarters job which I stayed at until I left the Directorate in 1989.

I met Mike a number of times over that period and he was always friendly, welcoming and interested in what I was doing.

Mike was a fine man, a skilled engineer, a valued colleague and a friend who helped me find my feet when I first joined his team.

I was deeply saddened to read of his passing and would wish to extend my most heartfelt condolences to all of his family.

John Leary

[Paddy Kelly]

Such sad news. Mike was my first boss when i transferred up to Horseferry House on promotion to CWT from South Wales.
I found Mike to be a true gentleman who always had time to talk with his colleagues. He could be relied upon to give you guidance on existing work especially when any "sensitive" issues needed clarification.
I was involved with the early Police helicopter trials as one of my first tasks up at Horseferry House. [I suspect that as I was ex- RAF - before joining Dtels - Mike may have had this in mind and as a "tongue=in=cheek" influence for the role, but it was a task that I did enjoy.]
Rest in Peace Mike - You will be sadly missed by many of us.

Paddy Kelly

[Steven Cole]

I regret to announce that Peter Bridgeman contacted me to say Mike Phillips had passed away yesterday (5th October 2024) after a long illness aged 81. He leaves three children. More details will be posted here as they are known.

Photo: Mike taken in 2019 at the London Reunion


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Personal Message

I am saddened to hear that Mike finally lost his battle to the long illness he had endured. I was fortunate to know him during many occasions where our respective DTELS work interests crossed and when meeting up at the many reunions he attended in London. An article written by Mike was published in Intercom 8 (June 1976) and a few pictures of him appear in Intercom 9 (June 1977) & Intercom 12 (December 1978) Click here.

I know he will be missed by many former colleagues, may you rest in peace Mike.

Steven....