Phil was born in Bournemouth and spent his childhood in the City of London where his father was a Licensed Victualler. He also attended the Sir John Cass Junior School in the City. His early working career included the Management Trainee Programme for Tesco Supermarkets in the 1960s. He then joined Rank Hovis McDougall, covering the City of London. It was during that time he realised how much history and tradition existed in the City. In 1972 he signed onto “The Knowledge,” the Taxi Driver’s apprenticeship, and in 1973 gained his badge, which he has since held for 45 years. In 1990 he was invited to join the Fellowship of Hackney Carriage Drivers and, as one of the 21 founder members, was appointed to the Court of Assistants. In 1993, he was instrumental in the inauguration of the Charitable Trust, a committee in which he held the chair for many years. Phil was involved with the Petitioning for Company Status, became first Master of the Company in 1997 and helped plan Livery Status, which was achieved in 2004. In 1994 he organised the first Magical Taxi Tour Trip to Disneyland Paris for children with life-threatening diseases. The trip has run every year since and, in 2018, will celebrate 25 years with Phil as Chairman of the Organising Committee. In 2015, Phil was the recipient of the City Livery Club’s Root and Branch Award which recognises the contribution made to the wider aims of the Livery. The PR Practitioners have awarded him the Clarity in Communication Award for fund raising without the input of professional companies. In 2017 he was granted the Companionship of the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals for his help and support of their Whittington Project. During Phil’s varied career as a Licenced Taxi Driver he has been part of the 2012 Olympic Bid Project. For the Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, he helped organise 50 gold taxis for the streets of London, stood in for the royal coach at rehearsals and participated in the Royal Parade to St Pauls. He has worked with Cranfield College on various Transport Studies and with the Public Carriage Office for the conditions of fitness for London Taxi Vehicles and on wheelchair training. To recognise Phil’s service to the Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers and for fund raising and organising the Disney Trip for 25 years, the Company have invited him to become Master again in 2018. Phil and Adele married in 1972 and they have two children. Their daughter is a Sports Journalist. Their son works for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and is in the Livery. When Phil has spare time away from the City and the taxi trade, he enjoys spending time with his two grandchildren, watching Tottenham Hotspur and he also plays bridge (badly according to his wife).