The sad news that Phill died, 26 May, at home with his family – wife Beryl and sons Owen and Adrian – was a shock even though the prognosis was not good. Following a long-term illness, the variant of chemotherapy that he had been having had stopped working and he had been discharged from hospital with a care plan.
Phill joined HMSO in October 1961 and apart from spending some time in the Cardiff office and deputising as EAC he was always a Publications man finishing his HMSO career as the Deputy Director (Band 14) in Publications Division, Norwich responsible for Client Publishing. He was universally considered to be the man everyone wanted to work for, appreciated by staff, management, customers and suppliers alike. One of those few people about whom a bad word was never heard, and the man to tackle any job that was put his way. He continued in his role with the privatised TSO where he was also held in high regard, eventually retiring in 2004. He will be sadly missed by those many friends who kept in touch over the retirement years.
Phillip was also well regarded in the world of amateur radio and an appreciation from the Radio Society of Great Britain can be seen here.
The EDP funeral notice can be seen here.
A video link to the recording of the funeral service can be accessed here, Username: bavo2429 Password: 430089
Richard Nelson adds: I am so sorry to hear of the death of Phill Brooks. He was a great help to me when, following privatisation and the disbanding of Graphic Design, I was trying to set myself up as a freelance designer. Out of the blue I got a call from Phill who was re-establishing a design group within TSO Publishing. He persuaded me that I should apply for the job to head up the new design team. It was never a job I would have aspired to, but with Phill’s help the team was reborn and set out to maintain the enviable creative tradition of our predecessors in HMSO Graphic Design. Always Phill was the first with congratulations when things were going well and with help and assistance when I needed it (often). If you were ever in his company on a long train journey or stuck overnight in a hotel for a meeting or presentation he was a fund of entertaining stories, many of which revolved around his hobby of making worldwide friends and contacts via his passion for amateur radio.
Condolences to his family.
Trevor Priddle adds: I first had contact with Phill in 1966 when working in the General Ordering Office at SSPP, Pocock Street with Roy Henderson (TO), Frank Grigson, Norman Grimes, Les Pettet, Derek Eke and Bill Cramer. Phil was part of the Pubns parliamentary team, consisting of Ray Whiting (EO) Janet Rogerson and Janice Pawsey at that time.
When I moved to Atlantic House I was put in the parliamentary section (PB5a), although Parliamentary work did not fall under my remit. That was the work of Martin Grant and Ron Reddick.
When PB5a moved into Room D92 I was promoted to T.O. and began working closer with Phill. He was always polite and a pleasure to deal with.
Mostly I remember he was always trying to pull dates forward. One event that sticks clearly in my mind was that he wrote a half page minute giving reasons for a date to be pulled forward. I just replied to the minute with a “yes.” We had a good laugh later about it but I think at the time he was not too amused.
I also worked with Phill out of office hours, with Terry Walls and Jill Ward. We were part of the UK nuclear attack warning team.
A really nice person, a pleasure to work with, both in the office and out, one of the people that made HMSO a pleasurable place to work.
Christine Hawthorn adds: I was shocked and very saddened to learn about dear Phill Brooks. I have very fond memories of him, he was my first HEO when I joined at the tender age of 16 and never failed to encourage me in my youthful ambitions.
In those days, we used to have inter-departmental darts matches and I did throw a pretty mean arrow back then. Living in rural Dereham back then was troublesome for public transport after 18.30, and I remember him being so determined that Pubns were not going to lose the darts match against PP that he insisted on driving me home so I could participate! And as I remember, we did win by some margin!
Always smiling, mean sense of humour and as you’ve said, loved by everyone. Another diamond lost, but I feel so privileged to have spent many happy years working for him.
Moira Martin adds: Having heard the sad news of Phill’s passing, could you please pass on condolences from Dave and myself to wife Beryl and family.
Dave enjoyed his company both as colleague and friend. He was a very even tempered and competent man, who generated respect. He will be sadly missed.
We have also received messages from Jean Storey, Dave Burchell, Jane Burgis, Jim Wretham, Alison Womack, and many others who have made contact since the news. A small group of us have met in retirement these past fifteen years, and Phill was invariably the first to confirm attendance – ever ‘Mr Reliable’. This photo, from Oct 2017, was our chance to treat him on his first trip out after his operation and shows Alan Pawsey and the HMSOldies team of Robert Stutely, Dave Martin, Philip Marriage and myself with Phill.
