Also known as: Pip.
Philip died on Jan 24th 2011 on his 97th birthday. It had not been his ambition to be a firefighter, but, as a member of the Auxillary Fire Service he was called up into the National Fire Service at the start of the Second World War. He served most of the war in Grimsby, but had spells of duty in both London and Liverpool fighting the effects of the Blitz. Like many who served during this time, he rarley spoke about it.
he married May Woodall on Feb 12th 1941, travelling from the church on top of a fire engine and with a gueard of colleagues holding their axes aloft as they cam out of the church at Old Clee.
In 1949, having decided to stay in the brigade, he was appointed as Deputy Chief Fire Officer to thenewly formed Holland County Fire Brigade, a division of Lincolnshire. he served here, based in Boston, until his retirement in 1974. Stack fires, chimney fires, and cows in ditches were the bread and butter of thsi rural brigade, but there were some spectacular exceptions: the Assenbly Romms, Hall Hills Timber yard, farm buildings with animals to rescue.
In 1991 Philip and May moved to Bicester Oxon to be nearder their daughters. Philip continued to live quietly after May's death in 1998, needing nursing in a care home for the last few years of his life,.
He died peacefully with Diana, his elder daughter, at his bedside.
Added by: Diana Pettifer on 28 January 2011.
Comments
To Diana my condolences.... Farne Hunt writes [2 May 2011]:
With my mother babysat Diana a long, long time ago.
Farne Hunt
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Every year, thousands of fire fighters are injured whilst protecting the public. Every 30 seconds in the UK, fire fighters are called to an incident, putting their lives on the line, and often sustaining physical injuries whilst carrying out their duties. The Fire Fighters Charity is here for fire fighters during their times of need, and assists thousands of individuals every year, by providing pioneering treatment and support services.