Phil (Fred) Philbrick, a former member of the EBU board, has died aged 96.
Phil served on the EBU board during the 1970s, during which time he helped restructure the EBU’s teaching programme, and was also involved in bridge administration in many forms and in many locations. He served on the EBU’s Laws & Ethics committee, worked as a tournament director, including in Malaysia having served in the Far East during World War II, and later ran many bridge holidays, both in the UK and overseas, in conjunction with Margaret Hancock. Phil was described as an archetypal Sergeant Major, who was very organised and ran his Bridge events with military precision, but also with a good sense of humour
An accomplished player, and excellent administrator, Phil was also equally enthusiastic about introducing bridge to a new audience. He founded clubs in Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and three in Salisbury, including a now defunct club at the Spinal Injury Unit at Odstock Hospital. Even when he and his wife had to go into a care home a few years ago, he still managed to get into Salisbury in his buggy and arrange for bridge sessions to take place in the home. He was very active in charity work, which was celebrated in 1980 by his becoming first a life member of St John’s, then being appointed an Officer of the Order.
He married Cecilia in 1944, and despite his busy work life and numerous pastimes, still found time to have six children.
This obituary includes content written by Fred Hotchen and John Polley