Obituary - Dickie Phillips OBE, 1912 - 2007

Dickie sadly passed away peacefully on Monday night, 23rd July 2007, at the great age of 95. He was one of the founders of the SCBA pre-war becoming the Secretary for some 20 years after the war, President in 1979 and an Hon Life Member (one of only 2 ever). He received the Dimmie Fleming Award for services to Surrey Bridge. In 1984 when the Mayfield was formed as a members club, he was part of the "Transformation Committee" and it was he who found our new home at the Drift Bridge. He served on the Committee for 3 years and wrote our initial set of rules.

Aside from bridge, he got a First at Oxford pre-war, spent 5 years in Burma during WWII, then taught History and Economics at Sutton Grammar School for 25 years and received his OBE for services to education. After retiring from teaching he became Head of the UK Economics Association until 1985.

His energy and enthusiasm was unlimited and he was the epitome of the "old fashioned perfect gentleman". As a bridge player he won many trophies with Liz who describes him as an excellent player of the cards but an occasionally eccentric bidder!

John Timberlake - with help from Liz

(Dickie introduced Sylvia and I to the Mayfield in 1979, so we owe him a personal debt of gratitude)