Searching for Gerry's friends

Penny Phillips · 15-01-2009, 01:25

Hi all!

I have recently joined the Royal Welch Forum website and would like to introduce myself, my interests, and the reason why I am contacting you all.

My brother Gerry Phillips - Army Number 24314460 - enlisted on 9th January 1973 at Crickhowell. He joined the Regimental Band The Royal Welch Fusiliers in September 1975. He was promoted to Lance-Corporal in 1983 and promoted Corporal in 1986. He performed in West Germany, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Portugal, United States of America, Canada, Falkland Islands, Northern Ireland and throughout mainland UK. He played saxophone in and ran an 18 piece Dance Band from 1979 to 1987, he played clarinet in (and I think ran) a 7 piece Dixieland Band from 1980 - 1987. He arranged music, rehea**** Band(s) and was responsible for administration. He was also a member of 'Escargot' from 1979 to 1985 (Saxophone, clarinet and vocals).

He was a session musician for Daviton Recording Studios West Germany 1980 - 1982. He was Regimental Band Secretary from 1980 to 1986 and a member of the Male Voice Choir from 1975 to 1987.

On 26th August 1987, just eight weeks after his marriage, Gerry was involved in a road accident in Market Drayton, a place he'd fallen in love with and decided to settle with his new family and where he already had many friends. He was the only fatality.

As you can imagine his death had a devastating effect on our small, close knit family and it still impacts on us every day.

I am Gerry's eldest sister and am now living in Canberra Australia, where one of my other sisters – Judy - is also located.

As an amateur film maker for many years, my credits include everything from funerals, weddings and births through to art openings, training films as well as a number of travel documentaries. I have been thinking for a long time that I'd like to put together a film about Gerry's life, his childhood, his friends and his army years. In 2007, the year Gerry would have turned 50, I made the decision to begin on this film and so began the research.

My husband Tony and I will be travelling back to the UK this year from 4th July for ten weeks. To truly capture Gerry's life, who he was and what he meant to so many people, I would love to meet up with as many of Gerry's friends and acquaintances as I can.

If you have any special memories of Gerry that you would be willing to share with me or any photos – I would be delighted to receive any or all contact.

One last thing – I have hardly any video footage of Gerry, just his wedding so far which is not good quality film, but usable, so if you know of anything at all that you or someone you know has, it would be such an exciting find. In particular I would be interested in contact with Paul Cattel who I understand used to film most of the Band's engagements.

Please feel free to visit my blog on this website and also view my photo album on Gerry.
Thanks so much.

Penny
Email: hehir@homemail.com.au

**anitacorbett** · 17-01-2009, 10:06

What a lovely thing to do for your brother. A super idea to pass into your family for ever. I do hope you are successful and find many friends of his.
Do let us know how you get on.
Anita x

Penny Phillips · 20-01-2009, 01:31

Thanks Anita! Yes, it's something I've thought about for a long time and when his 50th birthday came and went, it motivated me to start on this venture. I'm so looking forward to meeting a lot of his friends at the RWF Reunion in Wrexham in September, I think it will be good for my mum too. But it may be some time before she's able to view the finished film. I've been so lucky as a number of Gerry's friends have already sent me photo's and shared memories and hopefully I'll get a lot of good film footage while I'm in the UK from July to September this year. It's going to be a very busy trip, but soooo interesting. We're also attending the Big Band Concert on July 8th which I'm very excited about.

**rikoshea** · 20-01-2009, 12:07

Penny

I remember your brother, he was a very well liked member of the band that we in the drums platoon got on well with. When we heard of your brothers death it effected us all. There is one thing I can say about your brother a true gentlemen. You will definately find no one who will say no different, not a bad word will be said about Gerry.

hope your succesful in your film making, your Mum & Family should be proud.

regards

Rik.
Drums Platoon
1981 - 1986

**Guvs** · 20-01-2009, 21:36

I know this might be a silly question but have you got in contact or posted this intro on the Regimental Band sub forum ? If you have I'm sorry for not checking it myself, like Rik above I knew your brother very well, as I joined a year or two before him and was a member of the Corps of Drums all the time he was in the Band with us, I to will say I cant think of anyone that had a bad word to say about you brother, Me and one other Ex Drummer gate crashed (in the nicest way) the annual Band reunion in Wrexham last year and there were a lot of Ex Band we talked to that also talked about your brother in good memories.
I hope you fulfill your quest.

led9750 · 20-01-2009, 21:46

hi ,
me as an drummer i remember Gerry well , blond hair if my memory serves me , i think one of his good freinds was fred Greens brother .
but like Rik said i cant see any one with a bad word to say abount Gerry , infact he was a bit of a boy { Paris Tattoo }{ Ment in the nicest way }

Hope you find the info you seek
led

Penny Phillips · 21-01-2009, 06:45

Hi guys!

Wow - Drums Platoon!!

Thank you all for the lovely things you say about Gerry. A gentleman? Yes! A kind and gentle man is exactly what he was and the family certainly are very proud of him.

I hope I'll see you all [gatecrashing!] at the next reunion in Wrexham? Perhaps then I'll get to find out exactly what happened at the Paris Tattoo? :o)

Yes - I've been in touch with Tony Green already, he's been absolutely amazing, very helpful and very kind and so have a few of the other guys I've already tracked down.

Just a reminder, if you'd like to take a look, I do have an album of photo's of Gerry on this site.

Guvs as I'm new to this forum, when you say it would be a good idea to post this intro on the Regimental Band sub forum, I'm not exactly sure where I should go?

**Thom15** · 21-01-2009, 22:21

Hi Penny,

It's great that you have had such a wonderful response with regards to Gerry.

The sub-forum Guvs made reference to can be found on the Home Page, scroll down to Social Groups and then click on Regt Band in the sub-forum. Good luck in your quest.

Dilwyn

Paul Hinge · 21-01-2009, 22:39

Just to let everyone know I'm in contact with Penny and have given her a list of contact details of the Band Association members (those ex RWF Band we've been able to track down).
Penny would like to get in touch with Paul Cattell. Paul joined the Band as a full Corporal in 1980 from 1WFR Band/Depot Lichfield and left under the first tranch of redundencies in 1984. He was from the West Midlands. I have been in contact with MOD pensions who have his last known contact and will pass on my letter. But if anyone out there knows of his whereabouts in the meantime please contact me via this site.

Cofion

Hingey

Penny Phillips · 22-01-2009, 04:48

Thanks Guvs- I've done as you suggest and posted another thread on Regt Band in the sub-forum and thanks to Dilwyn for showing me how! :o)

Thanks also Paul. I've received the list and am going through it. I've seen a couple of exciting contacts in there already.

I've also Googled "Paul Cattell West Midlands" and found one mention which includes a photo. I know it's a long shot, but this Paul is about the right age and in the right area, so fingers crossed. I'll be emailing you the page later today.

Now I have one question for all of you who knew Gerry... I note that a lot of the boys have got nick-names. Is there anyone out there who can tell me what Gerry's nick-name was, always assuming that he had one! ;o)