Phill and I were very good friends, a friendship which grew over the years and was made possible initially by the RNLI and a request for volunteers to assist Myfanwy Jones the First Lifeboat Visits Officer with the visitor centre at Llandudno LBS
Phill was a passionate volunteer, his thirst for knowledge about all things RNLI and also the boats and the station he proudly represented was staggering in its breadth.
His stories and he had many because of his background and also being a native of Carnarvon, rounded off an exciting and informative tour for any and all visitors to the lifeboat station. (And also me) The testimonials in the visitor book at the station tell a very engaging story about the power of Phill to fascinate his audience again and again.
Following Covid, Phill and I met regularly to have a coffee and put the world to rights, we had some very colourful acronyms which we shared, and they continue to resonate even now when I think back to those Wednesday mornings at the Coast Café in Rhos.
Phill was proudly Welsh, more than that he was proudly Canarvon Welsh, he sometimes would become frustrated when taking Welsh speaking tours around the boathouse that there are words (probably not too many) which have no translation, this in particular when describing the Shannon lifeboat and its operation. This was only one of many demonstrations of his passion to get it right for his Welsh guests.
Compassionate with all, he was a team player and always eager to share any new knowledge he had come by, he read extensively and was able to place events around the coast in his conversations with team members and visitors. We all stopped speaking and listened when Phill spoke about a subject as he was the encyclopaedia.
Phill has gone, he is irreplaceable in so many ways, however, he leaves a legacy of kindness and friendship to all who know him. RIP Phill xx
Nick Walton
30/08/2024
