Philip HillierFUSSELLThe death has been announced of Philip Fussell, a much-loved father and grandfather, who rose to prominence in the West Country, and beyond, as both a talented sportsman and one of the UK's finest ever competitive shooters. So varied were his achievements that the phrase, "They don't make them like that anymore," could have been invented for Philip.
Born in 1931, in the village of Rode, Somerset, Philip attended Monkton Combe School in Bath. Here, his passion and natural ability for sports, and a lack of interest in desk-bound pursuits, quickly became apparent. He would go on to become a renowned billiard, golf and squash player, with perhaps the pinnacle of his sporting achievements coming when he represented Somerset at first-class cricket. He had to turn down a contract with the County as his dad wasn't keen for him to turn professional. He also played for local clubs Frome and Lansdown and was persuaded out of cricket retirement in the 1970s going on to help Bath win the highly competitive Western League.
But it's for country sporting pursuits for which Philip is best-known.
He was a skilled fly fisherman, spending a lot of his time on the rivers of Wales and Scotland, but truly excelled at game and clay shooting. He represented England for many years and was crowned Beretta World Championship in 1987, aged 56. He even gave some shooting tips to the Royal Family during a visit to Buckingham Palace around this time. To see Philip shoot was to see poetry in motion and he's widely regarded as one of the 100 best shots of all time, as recounted by an article in The Field in 2009. Late in life he was still shooting to a level to which few could get close.
While a polymath, it'd be a word he'd no truck with, being a down to earth man of the country who was happiest when in the field, river or hide.
Alongside his sporting pursuits, Philip was a successful dairy and arable farmer and businessperson, owning a pub and steak restaurant in Rode, the village of his birth, for 30 years with his wife Jane whom he married in 1965. His life experiences saw him acquire many an anecdote. And his booming voice, amusing stories and larger than life character were all part of the attraction when visiting the steak house. Always competitive, Philip loved a wager, on pretty much anything, and may have been irked not to have made yet another century to add to those on the cricket field. But he'd have no regrets, having lived a truly rich, diverse, and fulfilling life.
The son of brewer Henry Fussell, and the youngest of four children, Philip is survived by his two boys, Andrew and Tim, and four grandchildren, Tom, Ben, Phoebe and Oliver.
A funeral service will take place on Tuesday 20th August 2024 at St. Lawrence's Church, Rode at 2:30pm. In lieu of flowers, the family have requested donations to be made to Dorothy House Hospice. A collection box will be present at the service.
All enquiries to: William Adlam Funeral Services 68a Lock's Hill Frome BA11 1NH 01373 452100
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