Phil Moncrief
Phil was born in 1961 at Whitehaven Castle and got a silver rattle for being born on the same day as Viscount Linley, Queen Elizabeth II’s nephew. Apparently the rattle was lost when Phil as a toddler threw it out of his pram!
Phil was born to parents Belle and John. He lived at St Bees and moved to Thornhill at age 10 where he was teased for speaking posh. Phil’s sister, Ann, is with us today.
Phil had fond memories of his childhood, such as going to the beach with his cousin Sylvia. Sundays were a family day and family- uncles and aunties- would visit. They would have family walks very often.
Phil had lots of uncles and aunties who on one occasion came to visit and had to queue out of the door because there wasn’t room for everyone. This became a favourite family story.
Phil went to St Bees village school, Thornhill and then Wyndham and Phil’s best friend from school was Steven Crichton. Steven moved to Nuneaton when he was 11 but the two stayed in touch and would talk on the phone. Stephen, who died recently, was also Andrew’s godfather.
On leaving school Phil undertook a bricklaying apprenticeship at Sellafield. The skills he learnt meant he appreciated good workmanship and would comment on nicely built walls that caught his eye in the years after.
Phil enjoyed playing snooker and pool. The first time Sarah played Phil, he was surprised by her skills as she managed to do a trick shot.
On another occasion Phil chipped the ball off the pool table in Egremont and smashed some glasses on a table. ‘Only a Thornhill man could do that,’ was the reply from an onlooker.
Phil loved trains and would ask Pippa to send photos from her holiday.
When he first got married he and Sarah would go train spotting every week. Going to visit any place, meant having to frequent the local train station and see what was there to be ticked off from Phil’s notebook.
Trainspotting is how Phil and Sarah met in 1990 when he was spotting trains at Whitehaven and she was catching the train.
You might not know that Phil went to the Reading festival on one occasion and really enjoyed it. Other interests included watching Rugby Union.
After meeting on the platform, Phil asked Sarah out and they got married on the 4th November 1995 at St John’s Church, Bigrigg. Sarah’s watch alarm went off in the vows which he had in his pocket.
Andrew came along in 1996 and Pippa in 1998.
Phil said to his family that he wasn’t keen to have a dog but changed his mind and said he was happy to have Toffee the dog, who was a treasured pet.
Phil taught Pippa to ride her bike. He spent three weeks teaching her. She remembers him letting go in desperation and fortunately the plan worked and she could ride. Pippa remembers him spending a lot of time carrying her on his shoulders and that he used to read to her every night. He also would do little dot to dot trains for her to trace. Phil was very proud when he attended Pippa’s graduation.
Phil had a good sense of fun with the children and had been known to ride on Andrew’s scooter when Andrew was little.
The family remember lots of nice holidays in Scotland and memorable days out, including family bike rides at Ennerdale.
In 2017 Phil started taking Andrew to the bell ringing. Phil was brought up at church and this activity meant that Phil returned. He was a great support to Andrew in this and they of course shared their great interest in trains. I have witnessed several conversations about different stations and models of trains and seen a photo of Phil sitting next to Paddington Bear in Paddington Station. It is nice that this enthusiasm for rail has been passed on to Andrew.
We can say that Phil has been a much loved Dad and Husband. Andrew and Pippa say that Phil was the best Dad they could have wished for.
Sarah says she has been so happily married for 28 years and that Phil was her best friend.
