George Sherwin Phillips (FICS)
1924 - 2014
George proudly showing his Cross of a Caballero awarded him by the King of Spain
A True Man of Shipping
Elected to the Institute of Charted Shipbrokers 1st October 1950
George Phillips' life was defined by his involvement in shipping and his early sporting ability.
Born on 14th September 1924 George was educated at St Boniface’s College, Plymouth. He was a keen athlete as a young man and played rugby for Plymouth Albion United and Plymouth Argaum. As a former Devon Amateur Association 1,500 metres champion he was immensely proud of carrying the Olympic torch twice, first from Haldon Hill to Chudleigh in 1948 and between Stonehouse and Union Street before the London Olympics in 2012.
George started his shipping career with the Ship Chandlers A.E. Monsen in Plymouth in 1941, returning to the same company in 1947 following a wartime career in the Royal Navy. He served on the Atlantic Convoys between 1943 and 1945 before being commissioned and serving on 'The Mull of Kintyre'. As a sub-lieutenant on this ship he was in Hiroshima in 1946 and helped in the cleaning up of a city will devastated by the atomic bomb. He continued in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve retiring after many years as a Lieutenant Commander receiving the Reserve decoration in 1975.
After return to A.E.Monsen he became Manager of Plym Shipping Company and during this time qualified for Associate Membership of The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers later progressing to Fellow. Plym Shipping was amalgamated into Bellamy and Company, Shipping Agents, at Millbay Docks, Plymouth, from which company George retired n 1986 as Managing Director.
As a true man of shipping and a great supporter of the Port of Plymouth he encouraged the younger members of his staff of Bellamy and Company to pursue their careers in shipping. Many of these individuals moved up through the industry to take up senior posts.
As well as being Managing Director of a successful shipbroking company he was a staunch support of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers. As a Fellow of longstanding he served as the South West representative on London Branch for many years when the South West was still part of London Branch. His contributions to committee meetings, while constructive were always lively and sometimes very humorous. He is still fondly remembered for taking a ‘goody bag’ of any lunch leftovers to sustain him on the long journey back to Plymouth. Even in his retirement he followed the activities of the Institute and avidly read the ‘Ship’s Log’ the newsletter of the South Wales and West Branch as well as the Institute’s own magazine ‘The Shipbroker’ and later ‘Shipping News’.
As a result of his shipping experience dealing with ships from many parts of the world he was appointed Honorary Consul for Belgium and France and Vice-Consul for Spain. As a Diplomatic representative this not only involved him in welcoming ships from these countries but also assisting foreign sailors in the South West if they were in difficulty, sometimes representing them at the Crown Court.
He was awarded the Cross of a Caballero by the King of Spain and made a Commander of the Order of Merit. President Mitterrand of France bestowed upon him the Chevalier of the Order of Merit Maritime and Chevalier of the National Order of Merit. The King of Belgium awarded him the Order of Leopold and the Belgium Civil Decoration (First Class).
George married Margaret Ruby on 28th March 1953; they had two daughters Janette and Kim and a grandson, Charles. He will be remembered for his many years with the RNVR, Plymouth Rotary and Probus Clubs, the Odd-fellows Society and the Plymouth Mariners.
Throughout his life George Phillips demonstrated the qualities to be expected of an FICS and was an individual of whom the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers should be justly proud to have had as a Member and Fellow.
George died peacefully on 2nd May 2014 at Derriford Hospital Plymouth.