HENRY DIXON PHILLIPS

1917-1918

Member of the Liberal Party.

Henry was elected to the Council on the 1st November 1902, as one of the representatives of the St. Margaret’s Ward, for three years. After three years, Henry, on the 1^st November 1905, was again elected as one of the representatives by the electors of St. Margaret’s Ward.

Born: 5th February 1862, Ipswich.

On Saturday, 10th April 1886, at St. Thomas in the Moors Church, Balsall Heath, Worcestershire, 24 year old, Henry, a draper, of St. Lawrence, Ipswich, married, 19 year old, Kate Ayre Duffield, of 10, Longmore Street, Balsall Heath – daughter of Abraham and Sarah Duffield.

Father: ABRAHAM DUFFIELD, born 1833, Tipton, Staffordshire, baptised 3^rd March 1833, St. Martin’s Church, Tipton. Abraham Duffield was a licensed victualler of the White Lion, Summerhill, Tipton. Abraham Duffield died on the 26^th April 1874, Summerhill, Tipton.

Mother: SARAH DUFFIELD (nee Ayre), born 1838, Birmingham, Warwickshire. Sarah Duffield died on the 20^th January 1910, at 7, James Street, Kinver, Staffordshire.

On Monday, 14^th February 1910, with instructions from the late Sarah Duffield’s executors, the household furniture at 7, James Street, Kinver, was sold by auction – Mr. William Rhodes Skelding, of Stourbridge, Worcestershire.

Kate and Henry had seven children:

Owen Dudley Phillips, born 7th April 1887, Ipswich.

Mildred Kathleen Phillips, born 1st April 1889, Ipswich. On the 21st November 1912, Ipswich, Mildred married Sidney John Stearn, a Pharmacist, born 24th February 1887, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. Brother to Clement Hodgson Stearn. In 1939, Mildred, an Air Raid Precautions Canteen Worker & Sidney, a Pharmacist – employer and a Special Constable, were living at their family home – ‘Bridleway’ Vermont Crescent, Ipswich with 2 female boarders. Mildred Stearn died 31st October 1949, of ‘Droxford’ Foxgrove Gardens, Felixstowe, Suffolk. Sidney Stearn died 7th January 1973, of Round Lodge, Belstead Road, Ipswich.

Doris Lilian Phillips, born 18th November 1892, Ipswich. On the 1st July 1916, Ipswich, Doris married Clement Hodgson Stearn, a Reverend, born 14th June 1888, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. Brother to Sidney John Stearn. During The Great War, Reverend Clement Stearn was an Army Chaplain for the Royal Army Chaplain’s Department. From the 27th February 1916, he served in Egypt, and France and as a Chaplain to German war prisoners in Africa. On the 17th August 1929, Doris & Clement, with the 5 year old daughter and 9 month old son departed from the Port of Southampton – next of kin: Clement’s father – Arthur E. Stearn, of 24, St. Barnabas Road, Cambridge. The Stearn family sailed Cabin Class aboard S.S. ‘Ascania’ of the Cunard Line – Master D.A. Hawkes. They disembarked at the Port of Quebec, Ontario, Canada 25th August 1929. Clement was to take up an appointment as a Schoolmaster, a Professor of Classics at the McMaster University, Toronto, Ontario. In 1941, Clement received his Doctorate of Philosophy at Toronto. Doris Stearn died 7th December 1944, of 11, Forsyth Place, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario. Clement remarried in May 1947, to Rosalynde Fuller McAdams Osborne. Clement died 18th August 1967, in Hamilton, Ontario.

Nora Ena Madeline Phillips, born 20th June 1893, Ipswich. In 1916, Ipswich, Nora married Stanley Herbert Burns, born 15th May 1893, Hackney, London. In 1939, Nora & Stanley, a Lloyds Insurance Broker, were living at their family home – 50, Chantry Road, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire with 1 cook and 1 domestic servant and 2 female boarders, both school mistresses. Nora Burns died 31st July 1959, at Addenbrooks Hospital, Cambridgeshire, of Carrigans, 3, Trumpington Road, Cambridge. Stanley died 24th October 1985, of Carrigan’s 1, Queen Edith’s Way, Cherry Hinton, Cambridgeshire.

Winifred Violet Phillips, born 29th July 1896, Ipswich. In 1920, Ipswich, Winifred married Frank Charles Oakley, born 24th July 1887, Hornsey, Middlesex. In 1939, Winifred & Frank, a departmental manager – wholesale clothing manufacturer were living at their family home – 73, Westerfield Road, Ipswich. Winifred Oakley died 20th June 1956, of 73, Westerfield Road, Ipswich. Frank Oakley died 12th April 1963, of 73, Westerfield Road, Ipswich.

Roger Geoffrey Dixon Phillips, born 6th December 1901, Ipswich. In 1925, Ipswich. Roger married Monica Monteith Fisk, born 22nd July 1902, Ipswich, daughter of Frank Henry Fisk, a provision’s merchant – employer & Emmeline Fisk (nee Monteith), of Park Road, Ipswich. In 1939, Roger, a director of a wholesale men’s clothing manufacturer & Monica were living with their sons at their family home – 24, Cotswold Avenue, Ipswich with 4 domestic servants. Roger Phillips died 24th January 1954, at the East Suffolk and Ipswich Hospital, of Hill Crest, Paget Road, Ipswich. Monica remarried in 1957, at Bristol, to widower, Norman Leonard Pope. Monica Pope died 22nd June 1975, of 20, Surrey Gardens, Westbourne, Bournemouth, Dorset.

Ursula Molly Phillips, born 25th May 1905, Ipswich. In 1939, Ursula was a proprietress at 11, Sherriff Road, Hampstead, West London, she had 3 lodgers. In 1942, Hampstead, Ursula married Arthur Bruce Sinden, a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, born 1882, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada. Doctor Arthur Sinden died in 1955, West Hampstead. Ursula Sinden died 6th July 1962, of 47, Cotleigh Road, West Hampstead, London.

CENSUS

1871    40, Butter Market, St. Lawrence’s, Ipswich.

Henry was 9 years old. He was living with his widowed mother and brothers.

Sarah, 49, a Woollen Draper.

Edward, 18, an Assistant Warehouseman.

Alfred, 13.

1881   40, Butter Market, St. Lawrence’s, Ipswich.

Henry was 19 years old, an Apprentice Woollen Draper. He was living with his widowed mother and sister.

Sarah, 59.

Ellen, 21, Governess in a private family.

1 female general domestic servant.

1891   26, Burlington Road, St. Matthew’s, Ipswich.

Henry was 29 years old, a Woollen Merchant. He was married and head of the household.

Kate, 23.

Owen, 4.

Mildred, 2.

1 nurse.

1 general domestic servant.

1901   Buckingham House, 40, King’s Road, Brighton, East Sussex.

Henry was 39 years old, a Woollen warehouseman-owned account. He was married and staying with his wife 33 year old, Sarah Phillips, at the boarding house of 65 year old, Hannah Elizabeth Brinton (nee Glading), a widow and employer.

On Sunday, 9^th November 1902, Councillor Henry Phillips attended a service at St. Mary-le-Tower Church to commemorate King Edward VII’s birthday.

1911   The Sycamores, Tomline Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk.

Henry was 48 years old, a Wholesale Clothing Manufacturer – employer. He was married and head of the household.

Kate, 43.

Kathleen, 21.

Doris, 19, a School Teacher.

Ena, 17, a School Teacher.

Winifred, 14.

Roger, 9.

Ursula, 5.

visitor – Ivy Muriel Matcham, 20, born Ipswich. Later in 1911, Ivy married Henry and Kate’s son, Owen.

1 cook – Bessie Pells, 21.

1 housemaid – Annie Pells, 19.

Bessie and Annie were sisters born Little Stonham, Sufolk.

Kate Ayre Phillips.

October 27th Daily Herald 1908  an electoral candidate.

MR. H. D. PHILLIPS.

Mr. H. Dixon Phillips is partner in the firm of Phillips and Piper, cloth merchants of the Butter Market, and has been a member of the Town Council for six years, during which time he has represented the St. Margaret’s Ward. He has been a member of the paving and Lighting Committee and the Sewage Committee, and as such has taken his part in the progressive policy as regards street and roads which has coincided with the rapid development of the Town. With other members of the Paving and Lighting  committee, he has given considerable time to the question of the unemployed, particularly in connection with what is known as the Haleigh Road improvements. On the sewage question which crops up from time to time, Mr Phillips is amongst those who believe that there is no need for a costly experimental scheme at the present time.

Evening Star – Friday, 9^th November 1917 – MAYOR MAKING – IPSWICH – There was a large attendance of the general public, and the proceedings of Mayor-making were followed with great interest.

Alderman Edwin Perkins Ridley, in rising to propose that Mr. Henry Dixon Phillips by Mayor for the ensuing year, first congratulated the Mayor on his successful year of office – a year which he was sure Mr. Colchester had thoroughly enjoyed himself. (Laughter.) Mr. Phillips was born in Ipswich and had spent all his life in the town. He started life with two great disappointments. One was the very early loss of his father, and the other that, owing to circumstances over which he had no control, he was compelled to give up his wish to enter the Navy, and confined himself to a business life. After he had started in business life he went into Midlands to obtain experience. That was an ordinary event in everyone’s life, but in gaining that experience he also found a wife. (Laughter.) Now after thirty years, Mr. Phillips still thought his search for experience was a successful venture. In 1886, Mr. Phillips joined an old-established woollen merchant’s business, and shortly afterwards he added a manufacturing business, which had turned out to be for the benefit of himself and the town as well. (Applause.) That business has become well-known in England and abroad. But Mr. Phillips had not confined his energies to business, for he was a Justice of the Peace, an active member of the Council for many years, and had taken a very prominent part in the religious and social life in the borough. Many years ago, before the war, Mr. Phillips was taking an active part in political life. Since the war Mr. Phillips had been particularly engaged in the work of the Y.M.C.A. (Applause.) They all knew how successfully the work had been during the war. Mr. Phillips had fulfilled all the essential conditions for a Mayor of Ipswich. With regard to the future it was usual on such occasions to look forward to the coming year. All he could say was that their minds were full of the war and equally full of hope that during the year Mr. Phillips might be able to celebrate peace. (Applause.) For them all the object of the war was to deliver the world from the menace of a vast military power, controlled by an irresponsible Government, and however much they longed for peace no one wished for it until that object had been attained. Any other form of peace would be enduring. It had been said that the best medal a man could bring home from the war was his identity disc, and what they asked of Mr. Phillips during his year of office was that he should be the self they all knew-(applause)- so that at the end of the year of office was that he might bring the disc home to the satisfaction of himself and of the benefit to the town. (Applause.)

Mr. Edward Colby Ransome, in seconding, heartily endorsed all that Alderman Ridley had said. It had been his good fortune for some years past to serve on two Committees of the Council of which Mr. Phillips had also been a member, and he had also served with him on a very important Committees in connection with recruiting during the last two years. During that time he had formed a very high opinion of the sense of duty which animated him, and for the thorough and conscientious way in which he threw himself always into the work in hand. His well-balanced opinion and advice on all subjects were always well worth close attention. Alderman Ridley had spoken of the work Mr. Phillips had done for the Y.M.C.A., and he would just like to add his own appreciation of the marvellous, entirely praiseworthy way in which that Association had arisen to meet the enormous demand upon it both in this country and upon all fronts during the great war. The work in the Court below would be no novelty to Mr. Phillips for he had already served a five years’ apprenticeship on the Bench, and had shown himself a most excellent magistrate, and they all felt sure that under his chairmanship, justice tempered with mercy would be well administered. (Applause.)

The resolution was put and carried unanimously. Mr. Phillips then donned the robes of office amidst applause and took the customary oaths.

Henry Phillips died 23rd November 1923, at 15, St. Edmunds Road, Ipswich.

Probate to Kate Ayre Phillips – widow, Owen Dudley Phillips – son, a woollen merchant, and Sidney John Stearn – son-in-law, a chemist.

Monday, 26^th November 1923 – MR. H. DIXON PHILLIPS – SUDDEN DEATH IN IPSWICH. East Anglian Daily Times

The news of the sudden death of Mr. Henry Dixon Phillips, of Broadmayne, St. Edmund’s Road, Ipswich, will be received with much regret in numerous circles in the borough of which he had been such a prominent figure for many years. Mr. Phillips, who has been a member of the Ipswich Town Council since 1902, was Mayor in 1917, and has been a Justice of the Peace since 1912. He was also elected a member of the Borough Licensing Committee in January 1922.

The direct cause of death was angina pectoris. Mr. Phillips walked down to his place of business on Friday afternoon, and shortly after arriving there was taken ill. A doctor was sent for, and he was taken home in a taxi, dying a few hours later on Friday evening, at the comparatively early age of 61.

His term of office as Mayor was during a very critical time of the war and included the great effort by the Government to obtain money on loan for the purchase of war weapons. His usual public spirit asserted itself, and he gave valuable assistance during “War Weapons Week” in July 1918. He had the satisfaction of knowing before he retired from the mayoralty, that the war was practically over.

Mr. Phillips was first elected on the Town Council in 1902 and has served the ratepayers almost continuously since then to the time of his death. In 1908 he lost his seat in St. Margaret’s Ward but was subsequently elected to represent the Westgate Ward. Being ousted in 1919, he put up for St. Margaret’s Ward again at a by-election in 1920 and was successful. His present term of office would have expired in 1925. He served on the Paving and Lighting Committee for many years and was first chairman of the Housing and Town Planning Committee, which came into being in 1917. On returning to the Council in 1920, he again attached himself to this Committee, taking great interest in its work until the end. Another Committee on which he rendered good service was the Finance Committee, and he also was a member of the War Relief Committee.

In addition to these official positions, Mr. Phillips was actively interested in several social and philanthrope movements, particularly the Young Men’s Christian Association, which has always had his generous support and sympathy. For several years he was Chairman of the Eastern Counties’ Divisional Union of Y.M.C.A.’s, still holding the office of Chairman of the Divisional Committee at the time of his death. During the War, Mr. Phillips threw himself heartily into the efforts of the Y.M.C.A., for the benefit of soldiers quartered in East Anglia, and in recognition of this and other similar activities he was made a member of the Order of the British Empire. He was a member of the National Council of the Y.M.C.A. and an ex-president of the Ipswich Branch of the Y.M.C.A. and a member of the Committee. He probably took more interest in the Y.M.C.A. movement than anything else.

Mr. Phillips has been a member of the Committee of the British and Foreign Sailors’ Society for many years. He was keenly interested in the work of the Chamber of Commerce of which he for a time served as President. He was one of the founders of the Ipswich Rotary Club, and was a member of Ipswich Golf Club, although not a keen follower of the game. His attitude towards sport in general was sympathetic, but he could not be considered enthusiastic in regard to any form of amusement, whether indoor or outdoor. His time was divided between business and public service. He was, we believe, on very good terms with his employees, and undoubtedly won the respect of the public in regard to public affairs.

He was identified early in his career with the work of Burlington Baptist Church, his interest in that place of worship going back to 1879. He was specially interested in the Sunday School of Holly Lodge Branch Misson, where he had been Superintendent since the time when Burlington Baptist Church took it over in 1900. Even during the years that he resided in Felixstowe, he kept up his association with this work with great regularity. The deceased was a Liberal in politics and was always to the fore in assisting his party.

He was educated at Ipswich, and as a youth, he had a great idea of entering the Navy, but the business which his father had set going in 1851 called, and it was natural that he should, in due time, take a share in it. After a few years with a firm at Dudley he returned to Ipswich in 1886 as a partner in the firm of Piper, Son and Phillips, in the Butter Market, in which, from the time of his father’s sudden death in 1863, his mother had been a partner for 21 years. On the death of Mr. William Piper in 1889, the partnership of Mr. Phillips with Mr. Clarkson Piper was carried on under the old title of Phillips and Piper. Mr. Clarkson Piper retired from the business in 1886. In 1891 a London branch of the business was opened, and in 1900, in order to still further extend it, the business became a limited liability company, with Mr. Phillips as managing director. A factory at Bristol was started the following year and is now managed by his eldest son, Mr. Owen Dudley Phillips, who is one of the directors of the company. In 1903 the Old Foundry Road premises were acquired for the manufacturer of clothing, and these were recently enlarged and improved in 1911, the Butter Market premises being vacated in the following year. In 1905 Mr. Phillips visited South Africa, where he had business connections.

Mr. Phillips married in 1886 Miss Kate Duffiled, of Dudley, who survives him, and he leaves two sons and four daughters. The elder son served during the war with a Scottish regiment, being out in France for some years. Mr. Roger Phillips is associated with the business at Ipswich. Three of the daughters are married.

The funeral will take place on Wednesday, with a service being held at Burlington Baptist Church, at 2:30 p.m.

Phillips Memorial, Ipswich Old Cemetery.