SOMETHING ABOUT PHILIP
THE CANDIDATE FROM AN ORDINARY BACKGROUND WHO WITH YOUR SUPPORT WILL STRIVE TO ACHIEVE EXTRAORDINARY THINGS FOR YOU IN PARLIAMENT
Philip and his wife Helen have been happily married for nineteen years and have four school aged children. The family live at Trimstone, near Woolacombe, where they all enjoy and appreciate the benefits of our lovely North Devon countryside and coastline. The children currently attend the same local schools as their father did before them.
Philip is the first truly local candidate to stand for election in North Devon for many years and can trace his roots back to at least the 17th Century on both sides of the family. He was born in Broadfield Road, Barnstaple in 1962, only a short distance from where his maternal Grandmother was born in 1896. Mike O'Brien, who was Vice Principal of North Devon College (now Petroc) at the time of his selection said: "I think Philip is like a stick of rock - cut him in two and he would have the words "North Devon" running through his centre".
As a well know local businessman, over the last twenty-five years Philip has built up a substantial financial advisory business. From small beginning in his parents’ sitting room and with the help of his foster sister on a Youth Training Scheme, Philip has been looking after people's money and advising them on their finances ever since. He is proud that the Company is now one of the largest and most successful of its type in the Country. His expertise has seen the business grow to levels where the Company is managing a sum which has broached £130 million on behalf of its many clients. He is proof of what an ordinary North Devonian can do if he sets his heart and mind to it. Over this time, Philip and his business interests have created numerous local jobs.
Together with his wife Helen, Philip’s other business interests include Trimstone Manor Country House Hotel and Cottages and Doves Christian Bookshop (now run in conjunction with the Christian Centre). He also owns a number of other properties in North Devon and is particularly pleased to have been able to fully restore The Old Custom House which is one of the oldest property on Barnstaple’s Strand (now leased to James Duckett) and afterwards, co-authored a 120 page book on it and the history and importance of trade to Barnstaple and indeed North Devon over the centuries.
As well as working hard to manage his business interests, Philip has always been actively involved in the local community. His involvements include Barnstaple Chamber of Commerce, Barnstaple Town Centre Management, North Devon Plus (and its forerunner) and many other business organisations over the years. He is a committed Christian and member of Croyde Baptist Church, where he has served as Secretary, Treasurer, Youth Leader and Deacon at various times over the years. He was a Trustee of The Christian Centre and has been a Rotarian for over 12 years including being Treasurer for 5! He has supported many other local clubs, societies and charities. Effectively Doves Christian Bookshop and Christian Centre have been a personal charity for many years but Philip is quite happy to have been able to support the community in these ways.
Part of this desire is to put something back into his local community and in particular to help his beloved North Devon has lead Philip into politics and the Conservative Party. The values of economic growth and opportunity yet with a social conscience provide the best platform for him to use his abilities and experience to the full.
History
Whilst Philip is now a respected local businessman, his ordinary roots here in North Devon mean that he has particularly good links with of the traditional industries of farming and tourism and is positive proof that by commitment and courage an ordinary person can still do extraordinary things.
When Philip was 4 years old his family moved from Barnstaple to Georgeham and he was brought up on a smallholding there. His father turned his hand to any and all types of livestock farming as well as his full time job for BT. Jobs ranged from the house cow which had to be milked by hand through to pigs, poultry and a market garden. He instilled in Philip his love for the countryside and shared with him his passion both for nature and conservation and also country pursuits.
Philip attended Georgeham Primary School and later Braunton Comprehensive (where his three elder children study now). Says Philip “We could never afford money for holidays anywhere but we were happy and certainly I did not feel deprived. There was no dishonour in queuing for our free school dinners or indeed leaving school at 16 (partly because the Family could not afford for me to continue in further education) but I have no regrets at all.”
Philip recalls “my parents were very hard working indeed. Money was always very tight and to help make ends meet, bed and breakfast guests were the first extra venture but Mum fostered many children too - I can recall there being up to ten of us sometimes when Social Services were particularly desperate. Thankfully, 4 of us in one bedroom did not last too long!”
“We were always encouraged to help at home. To earn some pocket money, we sought regular jobs and I can recall cycling the three miles to Woolacombe for gardening on Saturday mornings and a very busy year in “Ye Olde Cream Shop” in Croyde at 13 (with no till, that taught me mental arithmetic in a hurry!), glass collecting and washing at Ruda at 14 and at Croyde Beach Supermarket for the following two summer seasons and weekends.”
On leaving school and starting work for Lloyds Bank, Philip’s abilities were soon recognized but despite having an accelerated management career opportunity in banking in front of him (and being the District Representative for the Staff Union) in 1985 and at the youthful age of only 23 and with just a few hundred pounds behind him, he decided to start his own financial advisory business.
Philip has studied hard whilst he was working too. He started with day release at North Devon College and completed his banking degree subjects at first attempt. Since then, he has completed a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and numerous other investment management and financial advisory qualifications - whilst holding-down all his other activities.
However, it is not just hard work which has helped Philip. He has taken calculated risks such as providing a significant sum when having a tiny income after he had just started the business, to help his parents’ financial separation in 1986. In 1991, with his father (who was retired on a small pension at the time), they mortgaged the home for a very large sum to buy his first business property in Joy Street. The calculation then was theoretically a simple one - the interest cost was less than the rent which Doves Christian Bookshop was paying so Doves took the shop underneath. However, he needed to have the confidence to risk all, his house and home and his Father’s security.
Other Interests
Philip is well rounded in his interests, with connections and membership of many local and national activities, from the countryside to local postal history and badminton. He is currently chairman of the local committee for Heritage Open Days and is involved actively in North Devon Conservation Society. For the last few years he has been on the Barnstaple BIDs’ steering group too which has just succeeded in securing £720,000 to spend to boost Barnstaple’s prospects over the next few years.
He is also a keen motorcyclist and can often be seen travelling the roads of North Devon braving the elements and doing his bit to held ease congestion and cut down on fuel emissions, as well as campaigning for more facilities to make better provision for bikers.
Philip’s involvement in society started at a young age too. He became one of the youngest members of the Taw & Torridge Stamp Club when he joined at 11. Whilst his attendance is sparse now, he gives talks and displays to the Club occasionally instead!
Philip has completed countless local sponsorships and supported events over the years including:
Braunton and Barnstaple Carnivals and "Kids Karnival", Dulverton Hunt, Georgeham Grand Fete, Croyde Pantomime (yes - even being prepared to be in it and, of all things, The Dame!), Theatres Trust, St George’s House (which he has supported since 1980), Two Moors' Young Musicians' Platform (this was a major 3 year sponsorship), the North Devon Show Country Pursuits area (believe it or not, the Ferret racing!) and Georgeham School where he has presented sessions on stamps and communications in Victorian times as well as holding a moth trapping session!
Christian Life
Philip attended Sunday School in Georgeham as a child but as his parents did not attend church, he drifted away at 16. However, he was encouraged back and became a Christian at the age of 18, becoming a member of Croyde Baptist Church where he has remained since. During that time he has been a Youth Club Leader for 11 years, Deacon, Church Treasurer and Secretary for 15 years and was part of the visionary leadership team which saw a transformation in the Church from a spare-time pastor to a part-time one, to the first full-time appointment for many decades and more recently to two pastors!
And Finally
Philip considers it a privilege to be the Prospective Conservative Member of Parliament for North Devon and trusts that he will be able to serve the area to the best of his ability within a Conservative Government in the not too distant future. That he will be able to provide better opportunities for North Devon and the people who live and work in the area and be a sound influence for good honest hard work and traditional values in our society. He looks forward to being the MP in the government of the day to at last begin to have opportunity to wield influence as opposed to North Devon being under a minority party and in opposition for any longer.
