phil jones - this is my life
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Thanks to everyone who contributedTRANSCRIPT
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THIS ISMY LIFE
AT 60
Love from everyone...
SixtyYears
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5 This Is My Life
Words From Friends
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My best friendMy world My everythingHappy 60th darling
Love you loadsDot
”
“
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8 This Is My Life
It was the Friday night where I called you up and said ‘Dad, are you out having drinks? Can I come and meet you’? That is when I realised you are not just my dad and my role model, but you are also one of my best friends. Someone I choose to want to spend my Friday night with and someone I am proud to say is my dad.
Happy 60th Love Clare
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9This Is My Life
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“I WILL NEVER FORGETCAUGHT ME IN A DITCH SHOOTING STONES AT CSLINGSHOT. LITTLE DO YI FOUND THE SLINGSHOA FEW DAYS LATER ON TBOOKSHELF, BUT NEEDLALREADY LEARNT MY LE
UNTIL THE DAY I GOT ARSHOOTING AT A HORSE O
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10 This Is My Life
GET THE TIME YOU TCH IN ANDERBYAT CARS WITH ADO YOU KNOW THAT SHOT YOU CONFISCATED ON TOP OF YOUR EDLESS TO SAY I HAD Y LESSON BY THEN.
T ARRESTED FOR SE OF COURSE.”
HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY DAD LOVE PJ
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11This Is My Life
QuestionTime
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Roger Thelwell Q Describe Phil in 3 wordsA Mancunian, Connected, Amazing
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A Seeing his smiling face
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would be A To know Phil is like standing on the shoulder of giants – gain his trust and friendship and he’ll give you access to his vast brain
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back asA Denis Law
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would beA Brad Pitt. If he was not free then Bradley Walsh
Q If Phil was a food he would beA A Holland’s meat and potato pie
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime?A How many grains of sand are there on Blackpool beach???
Q Knowing Phil has made meA Richer, drunker, better connected
Q Phil couldn’t live withoutA People, Sky Sports, Chutney Raj, MUFC and of course Babs
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not? A Apart from where the reassure is buried, his love of haute cuisine (only kidding)
Andy ScottQ Describe Phil in 3 wordsA F****** Manchester United
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A A yellow taxi
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would be A Libel
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back asA Denis Law
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would beA George Clooney sorry I mean Formby
Q If Phil was a food he would beA A Hotpot and a pint of Boddingtons
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime?A The number of holes in Blackburn Lancashire
Q Knowing Phil has made meA Realise how lucky I was not to have grown up thinking that having wet hair was normal
Q Phil couldn’t live withoutA Knowing that coming second is not all bad (Hold this one until the end of the season)
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not? A Can’t tell you!
Question Time
14 This Is My Life
Darren WhittinghamQ Describe Phil in 3 wordsA Mans best friend
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A I struggle to remember in detail as most of the time was spent in the pub drinking with him! Lager in the The Adelphi, Old Toms and The Black Horse were the culprits! However, it was 1984/5 at college as he was the visiting tutor on typography. I have to give it to Phil – I didn’t understand the point of type until those days. The penny eventually dropped and now type is one of my life long loves!
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would be A A kind, loving, caring, fun man who loves getting the best out of people as much as he loves lager and Man U
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back asA George Best
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would beA George Clooney
Q If Phil was a food he would beA A food that melts in your mouth – like a freshly made Victoria sponge or a freshly baked pork pie – no jelly. Honest feel good grub, representing an honest feel good man!
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime?A Not that many. But the one’s he sends end up meaning a lot
Q Phil couldn’t live withoutA Another lunch
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not? A His heart is six feet wide
Dave MarrableQ Describe Phil in 3 wordsA Mate for life
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A OTP Munich Beer Festival, happy days
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would be A The world’s best “genuine” networker
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back asA A rock, because that is what he is to me
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would beA Denis Law
Q If Phil was a food he would beA A soup to start and steak and chips for his main
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime?A What a question! I have received emails over Xmas, Easter and every Bank Holiday for many years, thousands upon thousands. My favourite being the one congratulating Southend on beating Manchester United
Q Knowing Phil has made meA A better drinker! Sorry I meant networker. On a more serious note he made me realise that The Hub could work
Q Phil couldn’t live withoutA La Rochetta
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not? A Too much!
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Question Time
15This Is My Life
Lynda Relph-KnightQ Describe Phil in 3 wordsA Unstoppable, Lovable, Reliable
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A When I was chairing a debate many years ago on that new thing, digital technology, he had organised (probably via Typo Circle) at the old Real Time offi ces in Endell Street. I supervised his fi rst curry for him that evening in the company of Bob Cotton, Malcolm Garrett et al
Q If I had to sum up phil in just one sentence it would be A He may be energetic and hugely resourceful, but Phil’s not a deviant, just a straight up meat, two veg and Boddingtons man
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back asA A hamster
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would beA Mmm – Paul Newman probably
Q If Phil was a food he would beA Meat and two veg
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime?A Err – probably in the region of 1000 or more
Q Knowing Phil has made meA Have more fun than is reasonable in anyone’s lifetime
Q Phil couldn’t live withoutA His family
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not? A He came down to London in his late teens to make his way writing songs, the lyrics of which he has published
Shaun Varga
Q Describe Phil in 3 wordsA Ludicrously well connected
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A Very blurred
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would be A He is the one thing almost everyone I know has in common
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back asA Bobby Charlton
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would beA Roadrunner
Q If Phil was a food he would beA Curry. (Popular and available anywhere anytime)
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime?A A million. Possibly more
Q Knowing Phil has made meA Feel like I should get out more
Q Phil couldn’t live withoutA Email
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not? A He can’t sing
Question Time
16 This Is My Life
Paul Varela
Q Describe Phil in 3 wordsA Football, Booze, Babs
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A Having a heated debate with the fi nance director, explaining why he had just bought a huge plasma screen without telling her (it was to watch the World Cup of course). OH and him sacking me!
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would be A If he doesn’t know you, then you are a fi gment of your own imagination
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back asA A spam e-mail
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would beA Father Ted
Q If Phil was a food he would beA A Holland’s meat and potato pie
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime?A More than I even want to think about, just checked now and I have 309 since February, oh hold on, 310, 311, 312...
Q Knowing Phil has made meA Bald
Q Phil couldn’t live withoutA His laptop without a doubt, trust me. In particular Outlook and iTunes, I challenge him to one day listen to the whole library, all 30 days of it, non-stop. Oh and of course most importantly Babs, Clare and PJ
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not? A He was arrested as a teenager after protesting for gay rights
Alex Mitchell Q Describe Phil in 3 wordsA Thoughtful, Consciencious, Connected
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A Getting drunk with him and Craig Johnston at a bar on Haymarket
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would be A Phil has always had a word of advice or caution when I have needed it, he is a consummate networker and the business community is lucky to have such a special person
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back asA A business card…
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would beA Rhydian Roberts (I introduced Phil to him)!
Q If Phil was a food he would beA Lasagne from La Rochetta
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime?A If you take my emails and divide them in half, one of those halves is Phil’s! Especially in the run up to an event when we are a little unclear of who we have invited between us…
Q Knowing Phil has made meA Plain and simply a better business person. The need to help each other and support each other is a skill and a mentality that I have learnt from Phil and will never forget
Q Phil couldn’t live withoutA Hmmm…Well I think he couldn’t live without Clare’s constant helping hand in the run up to Sports Podge events
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not? A On the third time I met Phil I had to help him into a taxi off Regent Street after a late ‘networking event’ and he was singing to me!
Question Time
17This Is My Life
Simon UsherQ Describe Phil in 3 words A Seriously well connected
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A I actually can’t remember the fi rst time I met Phil which probably sums it up perfectly!
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would be A A friendly, encouraging can-do energetic guy who would fi nd it impossible to sit still and do nothing!
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back asA A mobile phone
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would be A Brad Pitt - defi nitely
Q If Phil was a food he would be A Good ol’ British fi sh and chips
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime? A There is no way I could go back and count. I would say in the hundreds, easily
Q Knowing Phil has made me A More determined to be an Arsenal fan!
Q Phil couldn’t live without A Manchester United
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not? A Not sure he would want me to divulge that ;-)
Alasdair ScottQ Describe Phil in 3 wordsA Champion, Gentleman, Uncle
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A Meeting with him and Malcolm Garrett at an apartment in Euston with very white carpet and hoping my trainers wouldn’t leave any prints
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would be A He’s the quintessential true English gentleman who both sees and helps develop the best in everyone who meets him
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back as A A cyborg from the future, his sole mission - to track down Sarah Connor and sell her some branding?
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would be A Robert Lindsay
Q If Phil was a food he would be A Shepherd’s Pie @ The Ivy
Question Time
18 This Is My Life
Question Time
19This Is My Life
Graham ClarkQ Describe Phil in 3 words A A people person
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A Watching him watching Manchester United play in an FA Cup fi nal on a hand-held TV at Andy Myles wedding and jumping up and cheering loudly when they scored!
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would be A Phil is the ultimate motivational “people person” who has the rare and valuable ability to relate to, understand and communicate with many different people in all walks of life
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back as A Captain James T Kirk
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would be A Noel Gallagher
Q If Phil was a food he would be A Bread and butter pudding with clotted cream
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime?A I don’t know the word for that many!
Q Knowing Phil has made me A A wiser and a better team player
Q Phil couldn’t live without A White bread
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not? A What happens on tour, stays on tour!
Peter Gandolfi Q Describe Phil in 3 words A Old, thin and grey!
Q My fi rst memory of Phil isA Old, thin and grey!
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would beA Old, thin and grey!
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back asA Denis Law’s shorts
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would beA Compo
Q Knowing Phil has made meA Feel young
Q Phil couldn’t live withoutA His pacemaker
Matt LorenzoQ Describe Phil in 3 words A Phil “Have-You-Met?” Jones
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A I don’t have a fi rst memory, he’s always been there. I suspect he introduced my parents…
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would be A Phil believes in the power of friendship, some say there are no friends in business, in Phil’s world there are ONLY friends
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back asA Phil has no need of the afterlife. He introduced Peter Pan to Dorian Gray (with some help from Jess Conrad and Cliff Richard) and they reckon they’ve got the Eternal Life Agency as good as sorted
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would be A If I chose, it would be Joe 90. If he chose it would be more likely Denis Law
Q If Phil was a food he would be A Set Meal Z – for at least 26 persons
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime? A I only bought a computer so I could ignore the emails and he could stop phoning
Q Knowing Phil has made me A Lots of new mates. And just the odd numptie
Q Phil couldn’t live without A His family
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not? A He has almost certainly organised his own surprise 60th birthday party
Patrick BagleeQ Describe Phil in 3 words A Generous, Thoughtful, Loyal
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A Asking him for a business card at Manchester Polytechnic in 1987
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would be A A prince among men
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back as A Himself, repeatedly
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would be A Denis Law
Q If Phil was a food, he would be A A Holland’s pie
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime? A Well over 5,000 and all 30 words or less
Q Knowing Phil has made me A Married
Q Phil couldn’t live without A Babs
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not? A He’s still 21
Question Time
20 This Is My Life
Craig JohnstonQ Describe Phil in 3 wordsA The Mighty Vortex
Q My fi rst memory of Phil isA The fi rst time I met Phil he had a huge big smile on his face, a secretary called Elvis and the enthusiasm of a teenager. He shook my hand, said hello how can I help you...and you could tell...he really meant it
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would beA If I had one phone call to make, and my very life depended on it, that call would be to Phil Jones
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back asA Georgie Best
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would beA George Clooney
Q If Phil was a food he would beA An onion...There are plenty of layers there...you know...like the Shrek and Donkey conversation
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime?A That would have to be a couple of thousand
Q Knowing Phil has made meA Believe that the nice guys can actually win
Q Phil couldn’t live withoutA His friends and family...and Balm Cakes
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not?A He is not a pretty sight in his underpants fi rst thing in the morning!
Mike CurtisQ Describe Phil in 3 words A Pay it forward
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A 1985, Preston Poly. Phil was a visiting lecturer in typography. I don’t recall him giving any lectures, but I do recall spending many an evening in the Adelphi and the Black Horse with him
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would beA “I see you don’t have custard on the menu, if I asked really nicely would you make me some?”
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back as A The landlord of the Agency World
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would be A Deirdre Barlow. It’s all in the glasses
Q If Phil was a food he would be A That’s an easy one. Custard
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime?A I wasn’t aware that Phil knew how to email, I have never received a single email from him. I thought he was much more of a WOMman, that’s a Word Of Mouth Man
Q Knowing Phil has made me A Value the role of friendship in business
Q Phil couldn’t live without A That would have to be custard
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not? A He secretly supports Arsenal
Question Time
21This Is My Life
R BerylQ Describe Phil in 3 words A Big Bully Brother
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A Being thumped
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would be A Ouch Ouch Ouch
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back as A A pampered pet
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to Play Phil in his life story it would be A Richard Madeley
Q If Phil was a food he would be A Cheese on toast
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime? A Too many
Q Knowing Phil has made meA Paranoid
Q Phil couldn’t live withoutA Crusty bread
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not? A He was a truant and I am almost sure he forged his school reports
Trevor ChambersQ Describe Phil in 3 words A Honest, Manchester, Mate
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A A cream suit, brown shoes and a dislike of any gunge like gherkins in his McDonalds burger. Also Phil asking a guy who’d come for an interview as an accountant to do a dare to get the job
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would be A The best boss, mentor and friend in business and life you could ever wish to have
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back as A George Best
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would be A A cross between Michael Douglas and Les Dawson
Q If Phil was a food he would beA Meat and Potato pie (wholesome, honest and British)
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime? A 894, 264 – received, 147, 897 still to open and at least 43.2% have been about watching Manchester United and/or drinking beer
Q Knowing Phil has made meA Better at what I do every day and even a closet Man U fan now and again
Q Phil couldn’t live without A Family, Manchester United and his membership to the Soho gentleman’s gay club (and maybe not in that order)
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not? A Phil is colour blind, and Babs used to label his clothes so he could match his tie with his suit. He can also read upside down and back to front. This comes from his hot metal days. He’s great with his head in the box, but if you play football with him and pass him the ball, don’t expect to get a pass back
Question Time
22 This Is My Life
Rowan HeasleyQ Describe Phil in 3 words A Man, Myth, Legend
Q My fi rst memory of Phil isA Him putting his arm around me and saying, “Rowan I would like to introduce you to ….” Years later he is still doing the same thing
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would be A The man has more fans than Michael Jackson
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back asA An ant, one of the more sociable animals that live in colonies of 500 000 or more, he would keep meeting other ants and making friends forever
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would be A Patrick Stewart with hair
Q If Phil was a food he would be A Baked beans! Put them in a corner of your plate and before you know it they have met all the other food on the plate and everything has a bit of baked beans in it
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime? A 7 million, three hundred and twenty two thousand, nine hundred and seventy one...two …three…
Q Knowing Phil has made me realise that A I need to be more sociable again, friends make you happy
Q Phil couldn’t live without A Bacon buttys, sausage buttys or any northern style stodgy food
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not? A I am sworn to secrecy on this one!
Question Time
23This Is My Life
Chris KempQ Describe Phil in 3 wordsA Pint and pie
Q My fi rst memory of Phil isA Breakfast in the Wolseley, him telling me a client didn’t like me!
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would be A The man is a true gent always time for others, incredibly well connected, though does not suffer fools
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back as A Alex Ferguson
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would be A Philip Glennister
Q If Phil was a food he would beA A cheese sandwich
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime?A 6 million
Q Knowing Phil has made meA Know everyone
Q Phil couldn’t live without A Babs
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not?A He supports Man City
Andrew HarrisQ Describe Phil in 3 words A Networker par excellence
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A Meeting him for the fi rst time at a lunch and nearly having a punch up with him - but friends afterwards!
Q The most random memory I have of phil is A An encyclopedic knowledge of past meetings
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would be A Hard working family man
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back as A A woodpecker
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would beA Eddie Izzard
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime? A 19 years at 20 per week - 19380 (allowing for a week off at Christmas)
Q Knowing Phil has made me A Get RSI replying to his emails
Q Phil couldn’t live without A “The Boss”
Question Time
24 This Is My Life
Ross LaurieQ Describe Phil in 3 words A A northern lad
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A A blur
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would be A A very long sentence
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back as A That guy off of 8 out of 10 cats, you know the comedian guy who’s a team captain, nah, not the fat one, the one with the specs!
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would be A That guy off of 8 out of 10… see above
Q If Phil was a food he would be A An excuse to have a beer
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime?A 10% of all emails received, ever
Q Knowing Phil has made me A Better connected. Better entertained. Just better
Q Phil couldn’t live withoutA Babs
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not?A His granddad invented the polo mint
Ian Palmer
Q Describe Phil in 3 words A The 3 G’s! Gregarious, Genial & Generous
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A Being asked to hold a lunch for 150 of the most senior executives in the design and media industry who are all competitors! Yeah right like that was going to happen!
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would beA Unbelievable talent for putting nice people in touch with each other for the right reasons
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back as A Keith Ferrazzi
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would be A Steve Martin
Q If Phil was a food he would be A A grape
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime? A 427
Q Knowing Phil has made me A Astounded at the number of emails he sends and receives and copes with them all
Q Phil couldn’t live without A Babs, Clare and PJ
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not? A He will accept a good Claret as good as Sterling
Question Time
25This Is My Life
Rob HeasleyQ Describe Phil in 3 words:A Generous, Good friend
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A A random phone call, he says “Naked Penguin Boy, that’s the coolest f***en name I’ve heard – you guys need to come to Digital Podge”
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would be A He’s the bloke at the bar who makes it all happen
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back as A A deadly & very rare BeeGle, one part mass-community bee & one part eagle, fl ying high, keeping an eye on everything
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would be A That kid Willis, from Different Strokes, for no other reason than it would defi nitely be a movie I would love to watch over & over
Q If Phil was a food he would be A A fruit salad, not because he’s a bit gay but because a bit of fruit salad is always good for you
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime? A 24/7 the mails are coming through… we had to set up a Phil-ter! Ba-dum-tish
Q Knowing Phil has made me A Realise there are lessons to be learnt in everything, deep & profound stuff, I passed this knowledge onto my kids & now the fi rst lesson that they have learnt is that the tooth fairy has taught them they can sell body parts for money…thanks Phil
Q Phil couldn’t live without A Football, beer & good company
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not? A I’m keeping that info for my early retirement blackmail party!
Bill WallsgroveQ Describe Phil in 3 words A Dynamic beer drinker
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A Typesetting delivered in a yellow taxi
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would be A Great fun to be with — a very special man
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back as A A beaver
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would be A Tom Hanks
Q If Phil was a food he would be A A northern meat pie
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime? A Too many to count
Q Knowing Phil has made me A Look more handsome in his company
Q Phil couldn’t live without A Beer, meat and potatoes
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not? A He was a very good footballer — for a northerner
Ian WhilbyQ Describe Phil in 3 words A Caring, Passionate, Shrewd
Q My fi rst memory of Phil wasA At a Bladdered event and I met him late on in the evening. We were both hammered and he invited me to Real Time which was on Eversholt Street. A few weeks later when I arrived at the offi ce and asked for him, he burst into reception, looked at me, paused and then said “Oh – I thought you were white!” Classic and only Phil could get away with it
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would be A The only bloke I know who can have a pint in Mayfair London or Moss Side Manchester and be able to hold knowledgeable conversation about the issues faced by both sets of residents and in no way lose his own sense of identity
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back as A A social worker, Langworthy Road Estate Salford as he just loves helping people and he has never ever lost the sense of where he came from. He takes enormous pride in seeing how much his students have and can achieve
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would be A Johnny Vegas - The reason for this choice is that what I love about Phil is that he is not one of those classic anal agency people. He‘s doesn’t quite fi t but does if that makes sense. He is truly unique in a market that is sadly becoming occupied with people that are very very similar
Q If Phil was a food he would be A A Holland’s Meat Pie (He use to bend my ear about how much he missed them). When he was 50, I managed to get a letter from the MD at Holland’s and a gift box of pies sent to him
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime? A A shed load
Q Knowing Phil has made meA Understand how you spot talent in the most unlikely places and people
Q Phil couldn’t live without A His family: During my time with Phil we would talk about growing up in Manchester, his mum sisters (R Beryl & R Kath), Babs, Clare and PJ. Without them, Phil would be like Samson losing his hair – powerless
Question Time
26 This Is My Life
Richard ‘Little Richie Poo’ HolleyQ Describe Phil in 3 words A DESIGN - FOOD & DRINK - FOOTBALL The Concoction King
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A Him running his hands up my skirt. (Don’t ask why I was wearing a skirt to the interview, but it seemed to have the desired effect)
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would be A The nicest most politically incorrect northerner that I could ever have hoped to meet. One of the few people that I am eternally grateful for having met in my lifetime. More socially connected than Facebook
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back as A If I had my way it would be as a Saints player, just to see the priceless look on his face. But if it were up to the big man upstairs, he could only ever send him back as a Manchester United player. The captain of course (and also responsible for team identity and website). The man should run the country though!
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would be A The young Phil - Paul Potts (Britains Got Talent winner 2007), Middle aged Phil - Tom Cruise, Old Phil - Bernard Manning
Q If Phil was a food he would be A a) Inevitably based on football. Meatballs made to look like little footballs b) Make for a hugely enjoyable dinner, but no doubt be extremely bad for your health and involve an inordinate amount of calories c) Be the subject of a Jamie Oliver campaign to ban whatever he was
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime? A 239,417 (received) - of which 58% Offensive, 24% Containing Sexual Innuendo, 18% Work Related 1,329 (read) 234 (replied to)
Q Knowing Phil has made me A The excuse of a man I am today. He was instrumental in my move abroad (not to get away from him!), learning of another language, marrying an Italian and have two little kids. Basically extremely infl uential in my entire situation! Still not sure if I should thank or blame him
Q Phil couldn’t live without A His ultra wonderful Babs, Clare and PJ. His Anusol, Viagra (extra strong), watching, talking or thinking about football, specifi cally Manchester United. Socialising, stirring, concocting, beer
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not?A He has a portrait of George Best tattooed on his left buttock. He once held the record for eating the most pickled eggs. Phil’s record of 14 eggs in 2 minutes set in a Blackpool nightclub when he was 24 stood for nearly 30 years. He studied ballet until the age of 27, and only got into typesetting after a very nasty twisted ankle put an end to his dancing career. He could balance a pint of beer on the ass of one of his old PA’s
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27This Is My Life
Tom AdamsQ Describe Phil in 3 words A Bon-viveur, Entrepreneur, Manchester (United)
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A Holding forth on matters (ill-defi ned) at the inaugural Digital Podge lunch
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would be A An indefatigable, unforgettable, irrepressible optimist with a knack for knowing who you should know
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back as A Twitter
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would beA Aaron Johnson (John Lennon in Nowhere Boy)
Q If Phil was a food he would be A Curry
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime? A 6,478 (I counted)
Q Knowing Phil has made me A A better man
Q Phil couldn’t live without A People
Duncan RevieQ Describe Phil in 3 words A Great great mate
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A Enthusiastic
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would beA A great great mate
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back as A Denis law
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would be A Shrek
Q If Phil was a food he would beA Plain
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime? A Don’t know because I can’t turn on my computer, but I know Rita has had millions including the classic “just having a drink by the pool” that was it!
Q Knowing Phil has made me A Nervous
Q Phil couldn’t live without A Manchester United – oh, and Babs (although that should be the other way round)
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not? A Phil tried to shadow me once, but retired due to an injured liver
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28 This Is My Life
Ken HowesQ Describe Phil in 3 wordsA ‘You’ve done what?’
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A A very young 20 something turning up on a Monday morning at Pacesetters and having to teach him photo typesetting. If only I knew what I would be letting myself in for...
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would beA Phil never gives up (or forgets…), he is like an employment bureau with the number of jobs he has found for friends and colleagues. He is a complete workaholic, totally professional in everything he does and above all is still a great friend and mate after almost 40 years
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back as A A haemorrhoid - a pain in the arse!!!
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would beA His hero, George Best
Q If Phil was a food he would beA His favourite - Meat and Potato Pie
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime?A Probably not as many as some - I retired 6 years ago before he could fi ll my “inbox”
Q Knowing Phil has made me A Go grey and virtually bald
Q Phil couldn’t live without A Football and Barbara
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not?A He is colour blind. He originally came down to London to save up to buy a Ford Capri. Barbara used to dress him - well she would put out the clothes he would wear the next day
Alan HerronQ Describe Phil in 3 words A Chirpy, Cheeky, Chavvy
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A An over-confi dent loud-mouthed Mancunian badly dressed casual with a mullet wearing unfeasibly tight nylon football shorts trying to chat up one of our receptionists. But, amazingly, as it turned out, a lovely bloke
Q The most random memory I have of phil is A The look on his face when we arrived en masse at his Second World War themed party dressed as a bunch of Hitler’s henchmen
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would beA A man who would piss on you if you were on fi re. No, seriously, a man who would lend you his last fi ver
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back as A A typesetter and do it all again
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would be A Christopher Ecclestone or Lionel Ritchie
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime? A 2
Q Knowing Phil has made meA Happy
Q Phil couldn’t live without A His birth certifi cate stating that he was born in Middleton, Manchester
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not? A He supports Liverpool
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29This Is My Life
Milan HawkinsQ Describe Phil in 3 words A Jovial Manc butterfl y!
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would be A When it comes to business contacts, Phil is like Imelda Marcos with shoes – he just can’t say no
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back as A The same bloke, with a few thousand anecdotes from the dead celebrities he’d have met and taken phone numbers from
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would be A Sidney Poitier. That’d stretch his considerable acting chops
Q Knowing Phil has made me A Half an inch taller
Betsy EadQ Describe Phil in 3 wordsA Kind, Funny, Mischevious
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A In a pub with my brother Richard, Phil asked me to spell lots of hard words to see if I could spell well enough to be his PA!
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would be A One of the few people that has the ability to be a good boss and a great friend
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back as A A Greengrocer
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would beA Vernon Kay
Q If Phil was a food he would beA A Holland’s Meat & Potato Pie
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime?A Not many – I worked with Phil before emails!! Just thousands of dictaphone tapes!
Q Knowing Phil has made me A Successful in my career. He was a great role model
Q Phil couldn’t live withoutA Barbara
Q What do you know about Phil that others may notA He hides Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls in his desk!
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30 This Is My Life
Graeme EadQ Describe Phil in 3 Words A Fair, Inspiring, Loyal
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A Having lunch at the Oval watching Cricket which Phil knew nothing about…Trying to impress a new client! Obviously worked
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would be A He has a brilliant work ethic along with a brilliant mind
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back as A Hopefully himself as you can’t improve upon perfection
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would be A Peter Kay, always in good spirits
Q If Phil was a food he would be A Prime rib of beef
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in a lifetime? A 1000’s and bloody long!
Q Knowing Phil has made me A A few pounds heavier round my waistline, a husband and a father, oh and happily married!
Q Phil couldn’t live without A Barbara
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not A I married his PA (there’s probably quite a few that don’t know that!)
Jimmy WorrallQ Describe Phil in 3 words A Warm, Piss Head
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is A See above
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would be A Proper Fella, Diamond Geezer, Top Draw
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back as A A Cheshire cat because he is always smiling! Or a Recruitment Agent
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would be A James Stewart, specifi cally for the lead in ‘Its a Wonderful Life’
Q If Phil was a food he would be A That’s easy. Main Course: Fish and chips. Dessert: Apple pie and custard. Drink: Beer
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime?A I am sure he has melted many servers in his time. Gazillions for every contact he has!
Q Knowing Phil has made me A A richer person. He is a role model to anyone who wants to live a happy and long life
Q Phil couldn’t live without A His family and friends. Everything else is just for fun
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not? A He missed a penalty against the Hartlepool mascot “Angus the Monkey” at half time in the Hartlepool v Walsall game in 2009 and pulled his groin in the process, but was still the last man standing at the end of the night
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Question Time
32 This Is My Life
Pete AbrahamQ Describe Phil in 3 words A Tenacious, Smart, Funny (not always in that order)
Q My fi rst memory of Phil is he said A “JFDi” ask him if you don’t know the phrase!
Q The most random memory I have of phil is A The way he managed to sway, rather than fall over or pass out like the rest of us, after a fair number of amber nectars
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would beA A very long one
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back as A God, or at least Jesus... Gifted anyhow
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would be A Larry Lamb (Queen Vic landlord in EastEnders) but with a Mancunian accent
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime? A More than 10, I’m no good at mafs
Q Knowing Phil has made me A More accepting of northern people
Q Phil couldn’t live without A Football, beer, meat and potatoes, a crowd and a good laugh
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not? A He never owned a red Jaguar XJS long enough to enjoy it... some bugger nicked it!
Greg HeasleyQ Describe Phil in 3 words A An amazing guy!
Q My fi rst memory of Phil isA Meeting him at Bladdered, we spoke for about 3 minutes and he then introduced me to 10 other people in the next 5 minutes, he is a bit of a whirlwind to be around
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would be A A good mate and an amazing chairman
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back asA Phil just taller!!!
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would be A Robert de Niro (Hoping the fl attery will get me far here)
Q If Phil was a food he would be A Liquorice allsorts
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime? A 7 million, three hundred and twenty two thousand, nine hundred and seventy one...two …three…
Q Knowing Phil has made me realise A That there is a lot of work to be done…
Q Phil couldn’t live without A Football, he seems to be a bit of a nutter about it
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not? A Too many things to recall
Geoff NicolQ Describe Phil in 3 wordsA (For nights out...) LAST MAN STANDING (As my colleague and mentor...) MY TRUSTED FRIEND (On a culinary trip...) SAUSAGE CHIPS BEANS (On his beloved footy...) I LOVE DENIS or MAN U FOREVER (Overall...) TRUSTWORTHY, FAIR, FUN
Q My fi rst memory of Phil isA At the beginning of the 80’s, probably 1983, I was studying design at Newcastle poly. This very charismatic and generous guy visits the college to talk to us about type, donates a whole load of typography material to our year (remember this is pre mac!) and then proceeds to drink booze with us! Top bloke I thought...
Q If I had to sum up Phil in just one sentence it would beA A bloody long sentence! But with discipline in mind, I’d say “Phil is the most people orientated person I’ve ever known”
Q If Phil came back from the afterlife he would come back as A Denis Law for sure. If he couldn’t be Denis he’d be George. If he couldn’t be George he’d be Eric bloody Cantona and that would continue til he got his way and became a Man U legend. Failing that, he’d probably like to have been a songwriting Beatle
Q If I had to choose a celebrity to play Phil in his life story it would beA Ha ha... Love this question... ‘The autumn of my life’ starring Sid Little
Q If Phil was a food he would beA A cheese and onion butty, plain bap, butter, a little bit of onion and no gunk... oh yeah and a bag of plain crisps and a cuppa tea!
Q Total number of emails received from Phil in lifetime?A I’m going to attempt an accurate number... In the last 6 months exactly I have 477 emails from Phil that I’ve kept. If I assume that I bin 1 in 2 which is a fairly a modest multiple then I get 954 every 6 months. So since Phil joined the business as our advisor, I personally have had well over 5000 emails from him. In fact I reckon its closer to 10,000! If we follow Malcolm Gladwells theories in ‘The Outliers’ that makes him a genius!
Q Knowing Phil has made meA Sore. Fat. Cry with laughter. Bitter and twisted. Drunk on many occasions. Piss my pants. Get to know the landlord of the Sutton Arms very well. But overall, a much better person for knowing him
Q Phil couldn’t live withoutA Sacking Paul Varela every time he comes into the studio. Timothy Taylors landlord. Babs and his kids. His laptop and email account. Fingers. His glasses. Laughing. Friends
Q What do you know about Phil that others may not?A Phil’s dad was a boxing champ Phil and Babs have a special song! (written by Billy Paul) Phil can type 718 words a minute Phil can read upside down Phil was a songwriter fi rst, then became the love guru that we know today Phil was not brought up in a rough Northern estate, he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and has been kidding us all... Phil has had celebrity girlfriends before he met the love of his life Phil and Babs have private number plates, Babs owns PH1L R0X and Phil’s is BA85 4EVA Phil is not related to Stephen Hawkins as he claims Phil has a very interesting interview technique involving Guinness Phil has a one foot papier-mache fi gurine of himself and it’s possessed by dark forces Phil is actually a very serious chap Phil is gay and tried to kiss me :>o
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33This Is My Life
PersonalMessages
34
Phil knows the value o
He has thousands of frie
call on any one of them to
done. It’s a rare talent an
recommend to anyone, be
business partner or drin
Matt Lorenz
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36 This Is My Life
“
the value of friendship.
sands of friends and can
e of them to help get a job
re talent and one I would
anyone, be you a potential
rtner or drinking buddy.
Matt Lorenzo ”
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37This Is My Life
In 1994 I’d decided I wanted to start a digital agency, came up with a name (HyperInteractive) and a client or two, and set off around London to meet the others who’d ventured into multimedia. I think Phil was the second person I met. He welcomed me to his offi ce, introduced me to the lovely Trev, and told me all about Realtime’s business model. I remember our meeting with complete clarity - I was young and idealistic, and Phil opened his door and gave me generous advice which I probably badly needed. I don’t remember anything else about the bonkers early days mind, apart from Al’s cow pattern suit, but Phil stuck and I’m proud to still be his friend now. Phil, you’re the man.
Felix Velarde
Phil is always there with a smile and an “I-know-him-and-he-could-help-you” tit-bit when you need his advice. Without doubt he’s has been a huge infl uence on my career and the development of Mook. He helped us navigate through (considering his poor sense of direction) the interesting company sale and has provided support and insight that only a wise and seasoned professional could.
Phil Jones, I salute you!!
Roger Thelwell
Tom Adams
I met Phil at the inaugural Digital Podge 6 years ago. The man changed my life and my business. I thought I was the only one. But in fact, Phil and this wonderful lunch have done something similar for almost everyone I know in the industry. The care, attention and downright thoughtfulness that makes it possible are the mark of an unusual man. We are lucky to have him and his mad obsession with bringing us together.
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38 This Is My Life
Phil is one of the most connected people I know. He’s also one of the nicest people I know. He appears to be able to make time for everyone - you’ll even get an email back gone midnight! His experience in the creative industries is extensive and what isn’t in his head isn’t worth knowing. He’s a great coach and mentor to people I know and if you want to get to know him, make sure it’s over proper food - he’s a meat and two veg man! Ideal chairman material - he’ll keep you on the straight and narrow.
Deborah Dawton
These are my words to defi ne Phil Jones: Positive. Optimistic. Simple. Generous. Expositive. Effi cient. Integrator. Communicator. Gentle. Humble. In terms of work I would say Phil’s superlative attribute is his ability to make things fl ow and to connect people, facilitating situations and delivering alternatives and solutions in an inspirational way.
Pablo
A journey of a thousand contacts starts with Phil Jones. Well connected and knowledgeable Phil is an excellent Chairman with the right knowledge to steer an agency in the direction it needs to go. His dedication to Naked Penguin Boy is a delight and as a bonus he’s a lot of fun to be around.
Rowan Heasley
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39This Is My Life
“PHIL IS A TOP MAN, AND WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, PHIL GETS GOING. OH AND HE ALSO GETS OUT A BIT!”
Ron Cregan
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40 This Is My Life
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41This Is My Life
We were introduced by Hazel Ruscoe when I just joined The FA. Real Time did the 2006 World Cup Bid logo and I was looking to revamp the England Members Club.
In typical fashion Phil was warm, witty and entertaining. As well as a piss head - we went for a pint of Guinness round the corner at the Toucan (a proper boozer) which was a winner for me and I gave EHS the account based on these fi rst impressions!
I fi rst met Phil Jones at APT. He’d invited a few of us from Horseman Cooke to a tour of their offi ces one evening, with the promise of drinks afterwards. We were shown into a room full of old fashioned wooden plan chests. Phil described what it would be like if we were to become one of their clients. He pointed to a plan chest – on each drawer was a label – they read Pentagram, Smith & Milton and many other well known names of the day.
He carefully slid out a draw and reverently showed us examples of work they’d done for these luminaries of the design world. “When you become a client of APT” Phil explained, “you too will have your own drawer.” He immediately positioned the newly formed Horseman Cooke in the same league as our idols! It was a brilliant sales pitch and of course it worked.
Phil is, without a doubt the most important person in my working life. Since the age of 17 I have worked in one way or another for him or one of the many companies that he is involved in. He has fi red me more times than I can remember, normally about three seconds before he realises he needs a favour. I have never seen Phil be rude or abrupt to anyone, which is a very rare thing. He always has time for everyone, always supports you 100% and has an uncanny knack of making you feel like the most important person in the world. Family and football are his life, closely followed by the various podges and those legendary spread sheets that accompany them. I’m sure he holds the world record for the most amount of e-mails sent. It is a remarkable ability he posesses, to send a constant stream of them, no matter what time or day. He has the stamina of a 15 year old and is nearly always the last person standing, all the time taking in everything that is going on and remembering it all, ready to be brought up years later, much to the stunned amazement of the person involved. The man is a legend, pure and simple.
Paul Varela
Jimmy Worrall
Gary Cooke
“PHIL IS ONE OFIN THE CREATIVE NETWORKER I KSPECIAL AND HAVE HAD A LOTGREAT BUSINESSSUPPORTING THEHE IS A TOP CHAPBill Wallsgrove
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42 This Is My Life
E OF THE GREAT CHARACTERS IVE INDUSTRY. HE IS THE BEST I KNOW - WHICH IS A VERY D IMPORTANT TALENT. WE LOT OF FUN AND DONE SOME ESS TOGETHER. APART FROM THE WRONG FOOTBALL TEAM HAP.”
43This Is My Life
Since we met about 25 years ago, I only ever see Phil about once or twice a year at best. But every time we meet he always manages to say or do something amazing, which actually changes the course of events. It might be an introduction, an idea or just a nugget of experience and wisdom - but the effect is always dramatic.
Many thanks Phil, for all you have achieved and shared.
Dave Mackerell
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44 This Is My Life
“I was researching the early history of the UK digital sector a while back using a non-digital interface (back issues of New Media Age), when I came across what was clearly a media landmark. It was the fi rst ever picture run in the pages of the magazine, the issue of the 9th April 1998, and who should be in it but Malcolm Garrett and Phil Jones. It seems appropriate somehow that the architect of Digital Podge and best-connected man in new media should lead NMA’s design into the 20th century.”
Happy 60thMichael Nutley
I was never one for witty repartee so here are a few words from me: I have always admired Phil for his positive attitude to people and his willingness to always give people a chance to show their best. Happy 60th mateBob Mitchell
Not only was Phil a great boss to work for, he also had a great sense of humour. I shall never forget the lookon his face when his Manchester United hero George Best turned up at Lupo’s bar in Soho to be guest of honour at Phil’s birthday. What an unforgettable night!
Have a happy 60th Phil and enjoy your Bus Pass and Winter Fuel Allowance!
Ray Driscoll
One of my earliest funniest memories of Phil is when we had fi rst met, and not knowing anything about me, he was trying to impress me with the Diesel website. He now knows that I don’t even know what a website is & cannot turn on a computer. Hence my totally blank expression as he more vehemently strove to excite me and couldn’t believe I wasn’t.
Duncan Revie”
“
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45This Is My Life
THE OLDEST SWINGER IN TOWN! “TOO SWEET A
FLOWER TO BLOOM” MUCH LOVE UNCLE TEL.
Terry Neill
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46 This Is My Life
47This Is My Life
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John Rushton
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So - I joined EHS Brann as a Board Account Director the week of the agency Summer Party. Clearly this was a tricky assign-ment - that age-old ‘maintain a safe dis-tance’ versus ‘lead from the front’ co-nundrum. Nobody reading this will be surprised to hear that Phil set the tone quite emphati-cally - I seem to remember him holding court at 4am in the morning a d m i n -i s t e r i n gshots from his own p r i v a t e stash that he’d some-how hid-den in a doorway.
A natural leader of men (and those more dubious agency-types)
if ever there was...!
Nick Davies
49This Is My Life
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“PHIL. FOR THE GUIDANCE YOU’VE PROVIDED ME, THE CONNECTIONS YOU’VE MADE FOR ME, THE TRUST YOU’VE SHOWN IN ME AND THE OPPORTUNITIES YOU’VE GIVEN ME, I WILL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL. HAPPY 60TH.”
Patrick Baglee
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50 This Is My Life
Phil Jones is a real ‘special one’ (without the
arm-waving and Mussolini-style pouting…at least not
as far as I know…). Meeting him, I quickly realised
that the guy shoots from the hip but decides with his
heart. In other words, he’s calculatedly instinctive in
a way few successful business people seem to be and,
consequently, one of the best networkers you’ll
ever meet.
He loves to weave the separate skeins of his
relationships into new creatures; hence the prolifi c
number of people and businesses he’s helped to knot
together. He’s a truly ‘religious’ man, in the literal
sense of that word: from the Latin, religare, which
means ‘that which binds fast or ties together!’
Phil is the great catalyst of the creative, corporate
catwalk. He has become a model for many in his
circle. And that’s all to the good because he has real
generosity at the heart of his approach to business
and life.
Rogan & Charlie
“
”51This Is My Life
Personal Messages
I may only be fake Daughter no.3, the strange lady who just turned up in your house one day and started calling you Daddy and Mummy, but you must realise that - in my monkey-mind - you are my actual Dad. Having a wildly over-active imagination, only a fantasist of my level could decide that if I could choose a Dad, you’d be it, and then stubbornly and deludedly declare that, henceforth it was simply so. But you’ve played along with it all very politely over the years and I have basked in the glow of your fatherly advice, friendship and fun.
Whenever I see you, you’re so busy buzzing around, spreading your extraordinary mischief, imparting sagacious pearls of wisdom, or even - at least once at a Bladdered - trying to pimp Babs out at the bar, that I don’t think I often sit down and tell you how much I truly trust, respect, admire, love and appreciate you. We both know its happened a couple of times when drunk, but I really mean it, even without sambucca.
In fact the only thing annoying about you is that you don’t get hangovers. But you certainly do an amazing job of making sure everyone else does.
Thank you for everything you don’t even realise you’ve done for me and everything you do.
Have a wondferful birthday Phil.What a very special bloke you are.
Nykeeta (aka Daughter No. 3)xxx
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52 This Is My Life
Who’s the Daddy? You are, of course
Normally if anyone asks me to write anything over 10 words long I feel sick, get a massive sweat on and feel like I’m going to poo my pants, but as it’s you Phil I’ll make an exception. I wanted to say a massive massive Happy 60th Birthday! You’ve been so amazing over the years, listening to my moaning about dodgy men, trying to set me up with even dodgier men, always being there when I needed a bit of support or a helping hand with anything, oh yeah and you’re great fun to get bladdered with! You and Babs took me in when I fi rst moved to London and I couldn’t have asked for two better surrogate parents. Thanks so much for all the memories you’re an absolute SUPERSTAR.
Lots of LovePipparooney (aka Daughter No. 2)
Message from daughters’
53This Is My Life
Personal Messages
Wow, this is really hard to write without sounding as cheesy as a ripe lump of stilton! But then again it hard not be cheesy about a man that everybody thinks is the best thing since sliced bread.
Papa Jones, I don’t think I have ever admitted this to anyone but you are one of my inspirations and if I can be half as successful as you in both work and personal life by the time I reach your age I will be a very happy lady. Thank you for just being plain awesome.
So before I sign off I want to wish you a Happy 60th Birthday, make sure you make the most of your free bus pass.
Vicki (aka Daughter No. 4)
No.2 & No.4
Phil is unique - unselfi sh and always giving. He has this amazing ability to connect people. He has made me a better man and my company a better place. Through his kind invitations to networking lunches with industry big wigs and celeb type personalities, he has given me a confi dence amongst industry piers I didn’t have before. I am now fearless to the lot!
A big thank you from me and Happy 60th Phil. May you have many, many more!
Darren Whittingham
Val Gasgoyne
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54 This Is My Life
After working on Digital Podge since it started and not meeting Phil until years later, I can understand why it’s been such a success. Phil, is a great advocate for the ‘work hard - play hard’ philosophy and I have never met someone who can encourage everyone around him to excel in their fi eld of expertise. I believe everyone involved in Digital Podge (and other events) raise their game considerably - not because he asks, but because they want to do it for him. Now that’s respect.
Phil you’re always enthusiastic about everything and I think you’ll never know the words ‘slow down’. Thanks for the time, chats and the chance to work with you. Have a great day and here’s to many, many more.
George Stuart
Phil, you are a treasure and an inspiration to us all. You deserve the best because you are blessed. Our Happy Birthday Boy. Have a great 60th.
Love and hugs Val
55This Is My Life
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or entat dKind
Gen e r o u s upportive100%
family
Over the past 37 years I have watched him blossom from a skinny long haired comic into a hansome well respected man oozing with self esteem.
Happy
60th
Phil
With
Love
Meg
handsome well
60If you believe in six degrees of separation,
the idea that everyone is at most six steps
away from any other person on Earth, so that
a chain of, “a friend of a friend” statements
can be made to connect any two people in
six steps or fewer, then yes.
(See fig 1.)
Although some current research suggests
that just knowing Phil Jones ensures that you
reduce your separation to two degrees.
(See fig 2.)
Happy Birthday Mr Jones.
Ross & Rufus
Does everyone know Phil Jones?Question:
“60If you believe in six degrees of separation,
the idea that everyone is at most six steps
away from any other person on Earth, so that
a chain of, “a friend of a friend” statements
can be made to connect any two people in
six steps or fewer, then yes.
(See fig 1.)
Although some current research suggests
that just knowing Phil Jones ensures that you
reduce your separation to two degrees.
(See fig 2.)
Happy Birthday Mr Jones.
Ross & Rufus
Does everyone know Phil Jones?Question:
56 This Is My Life
”“After the party, I had a call from Phil offering me the
job as shared IT Director for Real Time Studios and Production Response. I had not realised that the meeting at the party had been arranged and that it was my job interview. I discovered that this was Phil’s normal practice and since then, we have both interviewed many a future employee at parties and in pubs. Needless to say that Phil persuaded me to join.
Shortly after joining, Phil sent me to meet “some people” at a conference in Holborn. What he forgot to say was, that “some people” was an audience of 500 and that I was expected to speak to them for some 30 minutes. Shocked, pale faced and in a coma, I somehow managed to stammer out a speech – but I have absolutely no recollection of what I said. This little incident set the stage going forward for working with Phil, who after that episode made it his duty to continue to drop me in the “sh*t” regularly – just to keep me on my toes and as he often repeats: “to teach me to speak English”.
Phil and I enjoyed many trips to the US in particular, where we attended and spoke at conferences and trade shows, often as a double act. From these trips we share many memories, we met many friends and learnt loads, but everywhere we went, Phil always had to check up on the latest Man U score or walk around forever, to fi nd a sports bar showing the latest United game.
One of the key reasons that Phil convinced me to come to Real Time was, that he had a vision of developing the business into becoming a New Media Business. CD ROM’s was the name of the game and while I absolutely agreed with Phil’s vision, I told him that there was something called the Internet that soon would take over CD’s – Phil’s comment was that
the Internet would never take off – it was too boring. I created some “early” corporate web pages for Real Time. The creative guy’s were laughing at the pages, labelling them a waste of time. Then I arranged for Phil and a few others to have their fi rst email addresses and Phil immediately took to email and the rest, as they say is history.
In time we both ended up being right. CD ROM’s gave us the in-house skills to produce very creative interactive solutions that went on to win numerous prestigious awards. And while the Internet technologies were maturing we were gradually able to take on the challenges of this medium with an authority, capability and a creativity that enabled us to win business, gain the trust of our customers and be part of the early Internet boom and a growing industry. These were exciting times and we were a top team, pulled together by Phil’s ability to spot talent and opportunity.
After I moved on from working with Phil, we have remained the best of friends and we stay in regular touch and communication through his (constant) presence on social media sites and even old fashioned email, phone and TXT. Our paths occasionally also cross over a coffee at The Arts Club.
Phil, it has been an absolute pleasure, fun, honour and privilege to play on your team and now sixteen years after meeting you, I am extremely proud to continue to count you as a friend.
Happy 60th Birthday mate.
It was at a summer party during 1994 in the O’Conor Don pub in Marylebone Lane. Chris Holly was throwing a summer party Texan Style. His Harley was parked inside the pub surrounded by tables of corn-on-the-cob. Chris introduced me to Phil and he and I had a long conversation (probably over too many beers) and got on well together - probably because I was Danish and my national football team, to everyones big surprise, won the European cup only two years earlier in a fi nal against Germany.
57This Is My Life
Personal Messages
In an industry jam packed full of puffs, fakes, bullshitters, chancers, backstabbers, liars and people with no personality, talent or charm – Phil stands out because he is a million miles away from being any of those things.
Alan Herron
Personal Messages
58 This Is My Life
Geoff Nicol
Phil is a consumate professional, a natural networker, and, as a ‘people person’ he is
one of the very best. His reputation as ‘last man standing’ at any social event
has been proven year on year, and to date shows no sign of waining. What else can I say about Phil ... Oh
yes ... he’s a damn good
friend!
59This Is My Life
Personal Messages
Personal Messages
60 This Is My Life
Personal Messages
61This Is My Life
10Loves a beer ...................check!
Loves Man U ....................check!
Is a top bloke ...................check!
All the ingredients to make the perfect Father in Law!
Happy 60th mate
Steve
Personal Messages
62 This Is My Life
Section Title
63This Is My Life
Phil is quite simply the nicest man I’ve ever met! He’s generous, popular, sincere and great company. There are few people in life that you’d always look to help, support and just be around - Phil is one of those rare people...a true friend!
My fondest memory of Phil was when I introduced him to Denis Law. I’d arranged it as a complete surprise and my lifelong memory will be an exuberant Phil showing Denis how he can hold his arm straight up in the air with his hand tucked in his cuff!
Peter Gandolfi
Phil is one of the most
generous and humble men I know. His energy & passion for the business is boundless. Phil’s love of bringing people together has helped countless individuals develop their true potential & he has been a real support
& mentor throughout
my career.
Anita Baglee
Personal Messages
64 This Is My Life
”
Whenever I need a wise head for help or guidance or even just a shoulder to lean on I know I can call Phil Jones
He usually knows somebody who can help me out
Mark Farrow
Section Title
65This Is My Life
Personal Messages
66 This Is My Life
I often say that I have no idea why Phil and I aren’t sworn enemies. He used to be my supplier, then he became my boss! We’re complete opposites in every way: race, religion and nationality – and that’s just talking about football. And yet I love him to death.
He’s a wonderful man, a true original and it’s always a pleasure and a privilege.
Happy 60th
Ayo Hughes
‘Some clever French guy once said: Old age isn’t so bad when you consider the alternatives.
Happy birthday on your very special day dear Phil, and stay the way you are!’
Ingo Auer
67This Is My Life
A
very happy
60th Birthday
to you. Have a wonderful day
and let’s hope we’re all as happy
and fulfi lled as you are by the time we turn
your age.
I don’t know how you do it, but I do know, there’s only one
Phil Jones (whatever Yellow Pages says...)!
Love and best wishes
(and copious cups of tea!)
Kate Brooks
Section Title
A
Hot off the Press
68
ANISH KAPOOR
A prolific 2009 peppered with exhibitions and festivals makes influential
artist, pioneering sculptor and winner of the 1991 Turner Prize Anish Kapoor
hard to ignore. In March, he collaborated with engineer Cecil Balmond to
design five giant outdoor sculptures, as part of the Tees Valley regeneration.
Then, in September, London’s Royal Academy of Arts was home to a display
of weird and wonderful sculptures. The exhibition offered a retrospective of
Kapoor’s career to date, featuring the aptly named Shooting in the Corner, a cannon filled
with red wax shooting every 20 minutes on to the academy’s stark white walls, and a
towering steel structure, Tall Tree and the Eye, which dominated the courtyard.
Appointed artistic director at the 2009 Brighton Festival by chief executive Andrew
Comben, Kapoor pursued his hedonistic ideas with a trail of sites around the city. All aim to
disorientate and distort the public’s perceptions, with funfair-like mirrors and a concave
satellite dish called Sky Mirror pulling tree tops and clouds out of shape.
Kapoor creates challenging, serious sculptures which also have a light touch and manage
to entertain the viewers, encouraging younger visitors too to develop an interest in art.
THE HOUSE OF ST BARNABAS
It is rare for a homelessness charity to
engage design to an outstanding extent, but
the Quintessentially Foundation has done just
this for the House of St Barnabas. It established
a pop-up club in the heart of London’s Soho
last year to attract London’s glitterati, has
staged events like a ball and had a book
published to raise funds for homeless people.
The club – Quintessentially Soho at the
House of St Barnabas – resided in a Grade I-
listed building on Soho Square from mid-
September to the end of December 2009.
Renovated by Russell Sage Studio, the
House of St Barnabas has now become an
events venue and will be used as a training
facility for the homeless.
In a related move, Start Creative has
created collateral for the charity and
published a book, Soho Lives, featuring
photography by Start team member Catherine
Garcia of local celebrities, residents and
workers. All proceeds go to the charity.
3 Soho Lives, Start
Creative’s fundraiser
book for the House of
St Barnabas
Swedish college
Hyper Island’s website
5 and 6 Two
installations from Anish
Kapoor’s Royal Academy
of Arts exhibition in
London, autumn 2009
www.designweek.co.uk Design Week 11
3
HYPER ISLAND
Swedish college Hyper Island is hugely
respected in interaction design circles as an
educational force that takes its students
beyond academic studies.
Established in 1995 by Jonathan Briggs,
David Erixon and Lars Lundh, it started running
courses in Karlskrona in 1996 and now also
operates in Stockholm. Subjects include
digital media, interactive art direction and
motion graphics. There is a focus on
leadership, team-playing and management,
as well as creative and technical skills.
But it is not just the content and quality
of teaching for which Hyper Island is known.
It has set up incubator units for practising
designers to work on real projects alongside
the students – something London’s Royal
College of Art is now planning on its new
Battersea campus. It is an exemplar in
educational practice and prides itself on
building links with the interactive and
digital industries.
It is apt that Phil Jones
divides the website for his
company Real Time
Consultancy into ‘work’ and
‘play’. While he is non-
executive director and
mentor of various design groups, including
branding consultancy Navyblue and digital
group Naked Penguin Boy, both of which
employ him as chairman, he is the king of
networking in design.
For more than 20 years, he has brought
people together. Initially, this was through
events staged by his typsetting business
Real Time Studio and the Typographic Circle
– of which he was then chairman.
Some 20 years ago, he set up the annual
Podge lunch for design leaders and the
monthly Bladdered by Fax drinks sessions
for consultancy staff. Podge has spawned
the annual Digital Podge for the interaction
industry and Sports Podge for key players in
that world – a keen Manchester United and
England fan, Jones is also creative consultant
to the annual international Soccerex show.
Bladdered has meanwhile become Bladdered
Again and is organised by Jones’ daughter
Clare, Nykeeta Barkakoti and Pippa White.
Over the years Jones’ enterprises have
been responsible for various consultancy
‘marriages’ – and one quite literally between
designers Tim and Georgia Fendley,
founders of Applied Information Graphics
and Construct respectively. Long may his
influence continue.
4
5
PHIL JONES
Celebrating its third incarnation
last September, London’s
i-Design has gone from
strength to strength. The
organisers have taken the
concept of a conference and
networking event to extremes, involving a
diverse array of international participants and
collaborating with the likes of Onedotzero,
Cybersonica and the Future of Sound to
present a full programme of debate,
interactive installations and short films.
One of the coups this year was that the
event, staged by New Media Knowledge
with Malcolm Garrett (pictured) of Applied
Information Group and blog Dynamo London,
and Tara Solesbury of Creative Strategy
Production, was held in one of London’s first
cinemas – the Old Cinema at the University
of Westminster’s Regent Street building.
A key part of the London Design Festival,
i-Design has succeeded against the odds.
Originally funded in part by the Greater London
Authority, it had to find its feet financially last
year. It achieved this, while broadening the
debate in interaction to go way beyond
website design.
It would be great to see i-Design
go forward in 2010. Interaction events
such as the Victoria & Albert Museum’s
ongoing Decode: Digital Design Sensations
exhibition are alerting the wider public to
the potential of interaction design, and it is
fitting that practitioners have a regular forum
to share ideas.
I-DESIGN
6
DW_Hot50_10-11:Lay
out 1 20/1/10
APOOR
3 Soho Lives, Start
Creative’s fundraiser
book for the House of
St Barnabas
Swedish college
Hyper Island’s website
5 and 6 Two
installations from Anish
Kapoor’s Royal Academy
of Arts exhibition in
London, autumn 2009
er Island is hugely
on design circles as an
at takes its students
udies.95 by Jonathan Briggs,
s Lundh, it started running
na in 1996 and now also
olm. Subjects include
active art direction and
here is a focus on
playing and management,
and technical skills.
t the content and quality
hich Hyper Island is known.
bator units for practising
k on real projects alongside
omething London’s Royal
now planning on its new
us. It is an exemplar in
ctice and prides itself on
th the interactive and
s.
Celebrating its third incarnation
last September, London’s
i-Design has gone from
strength to strength. The
organisers have taken the
concept of a conference and
networking event to extremes, involving a
diverse array of international participants and
collaborating with the likes of Onedotzero,
Cybersonica and the Future of Sound to
present a full programme of debate,
interactive installations and short films.
One of the coups this year was that the
event, staged by New Media Knowledge
with Malcolm Garrett (pictured) of Applied
Information Group and blog Dynamo London,
and Tara Solesbury of Creative Strategy
Production, was held in one of London’s first
cinemas – the Old Cinema at the University
of Westminster’s Regent Street building.
A key part of the London Design Festival,
i-Design has succeeded against the odds.
Originally funded in part by the Greater London
Authority, it had to find its feet financially last
year. It achieved this, while broadening the
debate in interaction to go way beyond
website design.
It would be great to see i-Design
go forward in 2010. Interaction events
such as the Victoria & Albert Museum’s
ongoing Decode: Digital Design Sensations
exhibition are alerting the wider public to
the potential of interaction design, and it is
fitting that practitioners have a regular forum
to share ideas.
I-DESIGN
PEOPLE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN DESIGNJANUARY 2010
HOT 50
Hot off the Press
70 This Is My Life
Five minutes of a boss chatting with a member of staff tends to work better than months of formal feed-back. Phil Jones explores the art of team-buildingLoyalty has to be a two-way street and there are no guarantees when it comes to the crunch. Some employees will stay with an employer through thick and thin, while others will move if the grass is greener. Take the Ashley Cole v Ryan Giggs model in football. Both are great players, playing in top teams under fantastic managers, but one made the dash-for-cash and one devoted his career to one club. Why? Could either club have acted differently and had a different outcome?I have had more than 25 years’ experience as a boss in the creative industries and have spent the
Get up close and personal
Richard Holley | Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:24 amI have worked for this man in person. It is so true what he says about motivating his staff. He made sure that everyones ‘emotional buckets’ were brimming. By giving everyone nicknames, he would demonstrate a closer affi nity to his staff and show them how well he knew them personally. I will always appreciate the way he referred to me in the presence of clients, as ‘Little Richie Poo’s’.
Drawing attention to my below average physical stature used to fi ll my ‘emotional bucket’ to overfl owing. On arriving at dinner for a judging event among the company of some highly regarded creative directors, I found a baby seat in my place. It is little things like this that make staff feel valued. Another of Phil’s most successful business management traits is his ability to explain any situation using football metaphors and analogies. Phil’s ability to fi re staff randomly on a Monday morning depending on the performance of his beloved Manchester United football team, was something he failed to mention in this article.
Mark Williams | Thu, 18 Feb 2010 3:52 pmI worked for Mr Jones for many years, and without a doubt, he is the best boss and people-person I have ever had the pleasure to work for. I have a lot of time and respect for him purely because he is approachable and will take the time to chat to everyone – not just about work, but on a personal level too.
He never spent all his time confi ned to his offi ce. As a result, I felt more inclined to go the extra mile when required. His approach to his staff has left a lasting impression on me, and I would encourage every other employer to adopt his style of management.
past six years as a non-executive director observing different management styles. There is no doubt that some consultancy heads are better than others at creating a bond with staff. Not all senior managers fi nd it easy to build a genuine rapport with the staff who report to them. I don’t remember reading any books on management when I was working full time, but for those for whom managing people doesn’t come naturally, help is now available.One simple, highly researched question to every member of your staff will identify immediately how full their collective buckets are. The question is, ’Have you received praise or recognition for good work in the past seven days?’Great businesses have a culture that ensures recognition of the value of each staff member. Some 70 per cent of people leave managers rather than leaving businesses.The bottom line is to encourage honest, consistent, grown-up communication with staff, even if you are giving them bad news. The best managers succeed by being accessible and gaining staff respect through consistency.
Hot off the Press
71This Is My Life
Phil Jones said: “2010 will be the fourth year I have chaired the DADI awards and it is one of the highlights of my year. I love pulling together a diverse range ofjudges from clients and agencies across Europe to pass judgement on the work submitted.
“The standard of entries has been improving year-on-year and selfi shly I have invited previous winners of DADI awards to work with me on my www.digitalpodge.co.uk website and they have helped me raise the bar even further.”
We’re thrilled to welcome Phil Jones to our board as a non-executive director, the fi rst in the company’s history.
Manchester-born Phil has come back up north to help us drive forward our development strategy – and so that he can watch some decent football whilst he’s up in Manchester!
Phil brings over thirty years of agency experience and is a well respected fi gure in the design and digital world and was recently honoured in Design Week’s 2010 Hot 50, and was nominated for a digital lifetime achievement award by Net Imperative.
Introducing Phil Jones
Digital Podge 10 goes Swedish!
DADI Awards
2010 judging panel assembled
Hot off the Press
72 This Is My Life
toPhotolink
What do you get when you combine Phil Jones’ legendary Digital Podge lunches with the Swedish Digital Crayfi sh Party? The answer: the Stockholm archipelago instead of London and aquavit instead of red wine but the same great time together with old and new industry leaders.
Perfect Fools’ Patrick Gardner and Podgefather Phil Jones joined forces last week to host the Swedish Podge, for the fi rst time ever outside England. CDs and MDs came from across Europe to enjoy conversation, crayfi sh and a snaps or two with their Swedish colleagues.
Phil’s experience in building successful creative businesses will prove invaluable as Reading Room continues its rapid expansion. Phil and Reading Room are ideal soul mates. We both share a belief in excellence, integrity and enjoyment in everything we do. Phil will bring so much to the consultancy in terms of his knowledge, energy and his status and reputation that will count for a lot with our staff and clients.
Naked Penguin Boy hires Phil Jones as non-exec ChairmanPhil specialises in connecting people in the creative, digital and sports industries, helping colleagues grow their businesses, and having fun.
“We look forward to welcoming Phil into Naked Penguin Boy, he’s been someone that we’ve always respected and admired, and the timing of him joining us is perfect”, said Greg Heasley, co-founder of Naked Penguin Boy.
Reading Room attracts Phil Jones as Chairman
Phil Jones joins
Green Square is delighted to announce the appointment of Phil Jones as non-executive advisor. Phil is undoubtedly one of the best connected people in the design and digital sectors and is the force of nature behind the infamous Podge and Digital Podge events.
Green Square as non-executive advisor
Hot off the Press
73This Is My Life
14 September 2007I served my apprenticeship compiling the Manchester United programme from 1967 to 1973, a period when the team had three European footballers of the year in Dennis Law, George Best and Bobbie Charlton. They also had World Cup-winner Nobby Stiles and won the European Cup in 1968 at Wembley.
The programmes in those days refl ected the fact that it was the team and not individual players that was
22 February 2007It seems strange to be inspired by failure, but that was the catalyst for the [annual] Podge lunch. Half a dozen design luminaries joined me at the Oval in the 1980s, when British design was going great guns, both in the UK and overseas. Over a very civilised and somewhat boozy afternoon, the general mood was very gung-ho. Then came the crash, and one by one each of the consultancies present that day were fending off the receivers.
Several years passed and I rang the original group to ask if they fancied meeting up again to discuss ‘what the hell went wrong’, with the result that it has now become an annual event with 120 people.
PODGETHE CREATION OF
Hot off the Press
74 This Is My Life
Those halcyon football days when less was more
important. Set in hot metal by fans like me, they were a labour of love in the days when clubs could be owned by the local butcher (Louis Edwards at Man U) rather than Russian or American billionaires.
Fans loved to follow their teams home and away with rattles and scarves, standing only, Hollands pies at half time, 1s to get in and programmes costing sixpence. All that and The Beatles and Rolling Stones topping the charts. Happy Days.
As Garrick Hamm prepares to take over as president of D&AD, the organisation is still trawling for a chief executive. Who would you like to see take the helm there and what do they need to contribute most?
Nurturing and encouraging staff is the best way to maintain morale and reduce turnover, especially when times are hard, says Phil Jones
With the Champions League reaching its fi nal stages, England have a record four clubs in the last eight. The headlines will single out Cristiano Ronaldo, Didier Drogba, Fernando Torres, Emmanuel Adebayor et al, but the top managers know it is players like Owen Hargreaves, Claude Makélélé, Mathieu Flamini and Jamie Carragher who often decide the outcome. Building a winning team takes a skilled manager who values the word ‘for’ as much as the word ‘in’.
It snowed in Lincolnshire over Easter so I watched plenty of TV and I saw three of my ex-employees excelling at something they loved. Thomasina won Masterchef and was launching her new TV series, Stuart was the judge who chose the winning dog at Crufts and Ray appeared on Mastermind. Most people have hidden talents.
Many more of my staff have surprised and delighted me over the years where I took pleasure creating roles around interesting people rather than employing for specifi c job descriptions.
As a consultant or mentor I rarely have the pleasure of employing and managing teams these days, but I do try to remind the directors I work with that they each have unique strengths and help them to recognise potentially hidden strengths in their existing teams before looking externally.
26 AUGUST 2008Any organisation like the D&AD needs to truly represent and champion the industry, so alongside the positive appointment of Garrick Hamm, I’d suggest someone with the qualities of Phil Jones - someone who can bridge all creative disciplines equally and is a bloody good communicator and motivator. You’ve then got Team GB of the creative world.
Gregor Jackson, Managing director, GP Studio
15 April 2004He may have hung up his airbrush, but former EHS Brann director Phil Jones proved there’s still life left in the old dog after a Sporting Lunch get together with a couple of new prospective partners.
Apparently, Jones (left) was keen to swap his suit for a pair of shorts and gloves straight away, but lunch got in the way. It always does that, doesn’t it Phil?
THERE’S STILL LIFE IN THE OLD DOG
3 April 2008
Hot off the Press
75This Is My Life
4 March 2004All hail the demise of the Podge lunch, the uber-networking event dedicated to a keen fostering of better work-ing practice in the design industry, and erm, all that. After ten years, Phil Jones is hanging up his organiser’s hat and getting a gym membership. But watch this space. The rumour is it will return in a different guise.
All hail demise of Podge lunch
15 January 2004Real Time founder and vice chairman of EHS Brann Phil Jones has announced he will be leaving the Havas Group at the end of January. Jones says he plans to ‘take a sabbatical’ and spend more time with his family and will consider his next steps in July.
25 April 2002
EHS Brann has beaten off strong competition in a multi-consultancy strategic pitch to be appointed to design the website and on-line identity for the FA Premier League.EHS Brann vice-chairman Phil Jones says the new site will provide the most accurate and up-to-date information on both FAPL clubs and the activities of the league itself, notably its involvement with grass-roots football which is seldom publicised.
Hot off the Press
76 This Is My Life
Jones to take real time out
EHS Brann in league with the FA
Real Time Studio is embarking on a three month recruitment drive to double the number of staff in its digital media team. Appointments will be made in the areas of design, account and project management and database design and maintenance.
A series of project wins over the past 12 months and a greater emphasis on strengthening client relationships has sparked the plans, according to the London consultancy. The additions will take the total number of Real Time staff from 95 to 115.
Managing director Phil Jones says: ‘The scope of the projects we’ve recently secured cannot be delivered without expanding our resources.’
4 February 1999 If you’ve ever been to a Bladdered-by-Fax piss-up, look out for your invite to the last one ever. After four years of monthly sessions, Bladdered creators Real Time Studio’s Phil Jones and Landor Associates’ Alison Cane reckon it’s time to call it a day. After one last time, of course. The event will be held on 25 February at 6pm at the Aquarium in Old Street, London EC1 and with 3500 sponsorship money it could be quite an evening.
Digest
UP FOR IT BLADDERED
2 March 2000
CREW GO COLD
TURKEYEHS Brann will appoint a new MD this week, replacing Mike Horn who left in October last year.
EHS Brann will appoint a new MD this week, replacing Mike Horn who left in October last year. The appointment comes as vice chairman Phil Jones leaves to spend more time with his family.
Hot off the Press
77This Is My Life
My advice for the anonymous writer who slagged off the DBA is to apply to join the committee, offer constructive criticism to your fellow committee members, and try to help build an organisation you can be proud of. And when the praise does not come, have the guts to hang in there and tough it out, and don’t bail out at the fi rst hurdle.It might not be as easy as writing anonymous letters, but it will give you more satisfaction knowing you made a difference.
28 January 1999I was invited to join the board of the Design Business Association in 1998 having served as Chairman of the Typographic Circle throughout the Nineties.Both committees are similar in that they invite “constructive” criticism from everyone working on behalf of the members. The busy designers who are prepared to give up their evenings to attend unpaid meetings demand, and have a say in how the organisations they belong to are run.
14 May 1998Real Time Studio managing director Phil Jones and design director Patrick Baglee have been promoted to Typographic Circle president and chairman respectively. They took up their new positions last Friday when incumbent president Des Booker retired from his post.
Hot off the Press
78 This Is My Life78 This Is My Life
Don’t be a pessimist - if you want to make a difference join the committee
Typographic Circle appoints
23 April 1998‘We’ve been out on our surfboard waiting for a wave. That’s kind of hitting now and people are getting wet.’ So says multimedia megastar Malcolm Garrett, putting a West Coast spin on the recent wipe-out of his company AMX Digital, before Real Time Studio’s surfer knight Phil Jones rescued it from disaster.
CATCHING HIS DRIFT
8 May 1997How diffi cult will it be for Andersen Consulting’s design arm to fi t into the culture at Real Time Studio, now that it has been outsourced? On the night the deal was sealed, Real Time managing director Phil Jones guided his new recruits through a characteristically sophisticated initiation process. ‘We took them out and got them drunk,’ he says.
13 February 1997The Football Association this week unveiled the identity for its 2006 World Cup bid. It is designed by Real Time Studio, which won a three-way paid pitch ollowing a nine-way free-pitch. The identity will see international exposure as part of England’s bid to hold the event.
Real Time is now in line for implementation work. “It’s for us to go to them with ideas,” says managing director Phil Jones.
Real Time Studio scores ahead of 2006
Andersen recruits have a real good time
14 March 2005 Phil Jones, former vice chairman and operations director of EHS Brann, can claim to be a founding father to the concept of ‘embedded’ staff. He placed his fi rst agent inside a client in 1991, when his Real Time consultancy started a remote offi ce in above-the-line agency WCRS. A Real Time team working semi-permanently at direct marketing agency Evans Hunt Scott impressed so much that the two companies went on to merge.
Jones claims his greatest success was when Diesel’s head of new media Bob Shevlin was having problems funding new media expansion at the fashion label - now one of the most respected brands online. EHS Brann’s Richard Holley, who had been working on the account, set off for Italy to join Shevlin and his team,though still on EHS Brann’s payroll. He has since become a permanent member of the Diesel staff.
Staff secondments:Behind friendly lines
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79This Is My Life
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designbusinessassociation
“We released the pigs before unveiling the
creative work” p.06
Phil Jones on Bladdered by Fax
and Podge p.07
Why paid pitches are
vital p.10
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interview
CONSULTANT, FOUNDER OF THE PODGE LUNCH AND FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE TYPOGRAPHIC CIRCLE, PHIL JONES IS ONE OF THE BEST CONNECTED PEOPLE IN THE BUSINESS. HE TELLS US ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF NETWORKING AND HARD WORK
DBA: You’re one of the best connected people in the design industry – how did you do it?I think it stems back to my days at APT in the Eighties when designers used typesetters and I was a common link between many of them. The APT typebooks and a smaller version, The Classics, were on every designer’s bookshelf and I suppose they all got to know me as a ‘good egg’ who would help give their work ‘an edge’. I was also chairman of The Typographic Circle for five years bringing some great speakers from overseas. DBA: Where did the idea for the Podge lunch come from? Back in my APT days I took six leading designers to The Oval for an afternoon of food, drink and cricket. They all knew each other by reputation but had never actually met; they shared all of their issues openly and had a good laugh. After the recession in the early Nineties, I thought it would be great to get each of the six originals to invite one other senior person along to a lunch so we could work out what the hell went wrong. I came up with the name Podge so it wouldn’t take itself too seriously and made it a rule that every year one of them would design an identity for Podge. Our first lunch was at Quaglino’s in 1993. Little did I know that it would still be going 15 years later and that seven years ago Digital Podge would be born.DBA: Will digital networking ever replace social networking? All of the big things that have happened to me in my career have started on a football field, in a pub or at a creative event. I initiated the APT five-a-side footie competition in the Eighties and Bladdered by Fax in 1991 to encourage designers to meet other designers. The advent of digital allowed it to be brought back to life as www.bladderedagain.co.uk a few years ago. A different design group hosts each one – Design Week are next in September. But whether invites go by fax or email the end result has to be real. I have lost count of the number of people who got their next job at Bladdered drinks evenings. DBA: What has been the single biggest influence in your career? Two great men and a great woman. Jack Jarvis was my boss in the Sixties when I served my apprenticeship as a compositor. The knowledge and patience that man had was the difference between me giving it all up or sticking it out for five years and getting my indentures. My dad, big Phil who worked seven days a week as a scaffolder and taught me the value of hard work, and my wife Babs, who has been my best mate for the past 35 years. DBA: What impact do you
think the current economic situation will have on design in the uk? I get to work with different types of business: design, digital, graphics and integrated. The owners are inspirational and brave and I admire how they are dealing with the challenges but I can’t say the same about the banks in terms of the support they offer. The agencies who are taking risks and expanding deserve all the success they get when things start to pick up. I do think that the best time to start a business is in a recession. I have done it twice with APT and Real Time and you can only go in
one direction when things are rock bottom. DBA: What’s been your proudest achievement? On a personal level it’s seeing my kids Clare and PJ with good degrees, interesting jobs and good moral values. In business it’s seeing the people I mentor successfully complete earn-outs or win significant projects that change the nature of their businesses. And meeting my old footie hero Denis Law last year was a proud moment. DBA: What did you want to be when you grew up? I wrote a book of song lyrics in Manchester. I came to London in 1973 and teamed up with a musician to write songs that we took down Tin Pan Alley to find fame and fortune. I was a miserable failure but it did get me to London and the rest is history. ■
Phi
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The agencies who are taking risks and expanding deserve all the success they get when things start to pick up
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Grie
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28 November 1996It was a case of double whammy in a Soho hostelry last Tuesday evening when London creatives pitched up to down a few beers in honour of birthday boy Phil Jones. Who was that distinguished geezer at the bar hob-nobbing with our own dear Typo Circle chairman? Surely it couldn’t be former football star George Best?
Any doubts were dispelled as talk turned to striking and scoring, and Jones’ Real Time colleague Annie Eaves confessed to having “fi xed it”. But Phil still isn’t sure. “Was I dreaming?” read the e-mail from our befuddled fan the following day. “Was it really him or was it a lookalike?”
Sorry, mate. It was really you, looking starry eyed and swapping Man U anecdotes with your hero. Mind you, there’s no more hiding your age behind that boy-ish exterior. When sports heroes take on the grizzled look, you know you’re safely out of short trousers.
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Jones has the best night in ages
22 June 1995Phil Jones of print specialist Real Time Studio and Alison Cane, design director at Landor Associates, enjoyed the Design Week Awards (22 March) so much that they wanted to “drink without consultancy politics on a regular basis”, according to Cane.The result is a monthly piss-up at a pub local to the host designer. Landor, the fi rst to receive the throng, invited all its mates by fax and the next host - Jones - will fax everyone on Landor’s list plus all his mates. And so the party will grow and grow.“It’s like a chain letter,” says Jones, who feels that there’s not enough fun in the design world. Dewe Rogerson, Giant and Union Design will be hosting future Bladders. Gawd ‘elp us all.
Featuring digital pioneers such as Ross Sleight, Felix Verlade, Alasdair Scott and the Podge lunch creator himself Mr Phil Jones, iTrumps: Digital Podge Edition is absolutely packed to the racks with legends present (and future).
‘This is the UK’s Digital Media Who’s Who. But with commentary on haircuts instead of hobbies. Brilliant App. Brilliant Event. Just Brilliant.’
WAYS OF GETTING ALL FAXED UP
iTrumps:Digital Podge
Edition
15 June 1995The Battered Characters, The Hanging Quotes, The Thirsty Types and The Mutton Quads are just some of the teams who entered last year’s Typographic Circle annual quiz for graphic designers at The Spice of Life pub in London’s Cambridge Circus.If you fancy pitting your typographic wits, this year’s bash is on Wednesday 28 June and the contact is Phil Jones on fax 0171-388 2296. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t know the answers, by the end of the eve-ning you’ll be so drunk you’ll forget you knew them in the fi rst place,” says the sagacious Jones.
There is a good design community in Bristol and Bath, and good local art colleges, notably Somerset College, to supply us and we are now starting to see more and more designers getting fed up with the metropolis and looking for a better quality of life. But is it really a design community? Well, there is an oc-casional social gathering called Designer Drinks, but I’ve never had an invitation. I’d have to change the name anyway. Bladdered By Fax was a much better name, and a great event - even if it was in London.
4 December 1997Bladdered by Fax, the monthly industry excuse for drunken behaviour, is widening its net. Perhaps because of the Cool Britannia image, the tradition of binge drinking has caught on in New York.
Bladdered by Fax, the monthly industry excuse for drunken behaviour, is widening its net.Perhaps because of the Cool Britannia image, the tradition of binge drinking has caught on in New York. The event has been renamed for American tastes though: Trashed by Fax.
Test for typographic
tipplers
Two nations divided by a common language
The case for the West
vs London
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A Trip Down Memory Lane...
He used to pay me a half crown to make him an apple crumble.
Phil and Len impersonated Public Relation Offi cers and had i.d. cards
printed so that they got a free holiday on Pontins holiday camp, and
ended up getting v.i.p. treatment.
He played truant for quite a long time from school!!! Our next door neighbour told my dad that he had seen him in Manchester and Phil’s response was that he was indeed in town but they were delivering chairs to another school.
Mum gave him the church envelope every Sunday with collection
money only to fi nd out from the priest months later that he had been
spending it in the arcades and not going to church.
His fi rst car cost him £100, it was a Ford Anglia (he loved it) he painted it maroon and the wheels yellow. He used to stop just a few yards away from the bus queue that Beryl and I were stood in and when we ran to the car he would drive off!!! We then had to join the back of the queue.
by R Kath & R Beryl
Dad promised Phil a snooker table if he
quit biting his nails which he did and
as agreed, dad delivered on the snook-
er table. What dad didn’t know is that
although eight of his fi ngers looked
perfect he still continued to bite his
thumbs, but he just tucked them in upon
inspection. So in order to wind him up
and get him to do stuff, I used to wiggle
my thumb and make him paranoid that I
was going to tell!
Nails
by R Kath
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The family across the road were very holy, in
fact one of the girls became a nun - they were
called the Sullivans and they had an Aunty
Mary who lived with them. There were three
girls and a boy but Rosaline was the
black sheep of the family.
I seem to remember that Kath and I said to
Phil that if he climbed up the drainpipe and
looked in Rosaline’s bedroom window he could
have our sweets. In the mean time whilst Phil
scaled the drainpipe like an SAS soldier, we
unknowingly were devouring all of the sweets
we were meant to be saving for him. He
always remembered this!
Happy days
The Drainpipe
by R Beryl & R Kath
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IN A TAXI, ON THE WAY BACK TO SHOREDITCH FROM A DECISIVE MEETING WITH NITRO GROUP IN 2005: US: “IT’S NEVER GOING TO WORK.”PHIL: “IT’S GOING TO WORK.”US: “WE SHOULD STAY INDEPENDENT.”PHIL: “YOU SHOULD DO IT.” TURNS OUT YOU WERE RIGHT. THANKS FOR EVERYTHING PHIL, PARTICULARLY YOUR FAITH IN US. WE WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN MOOK WITHOUT YOU.
by Tom Adams
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THE FIRST TIME HE FIRED ME WAS WAY BACYEAR OLD. THERE I AM, JUST A FEW WEEKS LEARNING THE ROPES AND JUST TRYING NOT TO MWONDERS PAST, POINTS STRAIGHT AT ME, SAYS “
I’M SITTING THERE THINKING WHAT THE HELLMY MOUTH SLIGHTLY OPEN AND TEARS IN MY HIS OFFICE AND SHOUTS “VARELA, MY MACS RE-HIRED.”
IT WASN’T UNTIL I CAME BACK FROM LOOKING AT TWHOLE SITUATION THAT SOMEONE LENT ACROSS AIGNORE HIM!”
SINCE THEN HE HAS FIRED ME ALMOST EVERY TRE-HIRED ME JUST AS QUICKLY BECAUSE SOMETH
I THINK THE MACHINES ARE WATCHING MY BACK
YOU’RE FIRED!by Paul Varela
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AY BACK WHEN I WAS AN UNSUSPECTING 17 WEEKS INTO MY NEW JOB AT REAL TIME, STILL OT TO MUCK ANYTHING UP TOO MUCH, WHEN PHIL SAYS “YOU’RE FIRED” AND KEEPS WALKING.
E HELL HAPPENED AND WHAT DID I DO, WITH IN MY EYES, WHEN HE WONDERS BACK OUT OFMACS PLAYING UP, IF YOU CAN FIX IT, YOUR
NG AT THE MAC, STILL A BIT CONFUSED ABOUT THE ROSS AND SAID “OH, HE DOES THAT ALL THE TIME,
VERY TIME I HAVE SEEN HIM, HOWEVER HE HAS OMETHING HAS GONE WRONG.
BACK FOR ME.
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Phil had organised the New York Design Exchange – driven by the Typographic Circle, which was held at the New School for Design in Manhattan (this must have been in 1998). Some of the best and brightest of the UK design scene headed over to speak to an audience of students and professionals (about 400 of them in all) as the fi rst leg in a cross-continental exchange. I (representing MetaDesign), along with Dominic Lippa, John Rushton from Pentagram and others, headed for the venue after a late night enjoying the bright lights of the big city.
For some unknown reason, I managed to cut myself shaving and so bought a box of fl ourescent Band-Aid on the way to the venue. I popped one of the larger size plasters on my cheek. Within moments, all (well, almost all of) my fellow speakers had dipped into my supply and put plasters on their own faces in exactly the same place. Including Phil. One by one, we took to the stage, and delivered our presentations, and never mentioned the plasters. We broke for lunch. When we came back to the venue – around 2.00pm, Phil made an announcement about the afternoon programme, his plaster still fi rmly in place.
It was only a few moments into the announcement that he noticed a couple of people on the front row had also got fl uorescent plasters on. ‘Odd’ he thought. Then he noticed someone behind them also had a plaster on. And someone beside them. It was only a few seconds later that Phil realised about 50 people in the audience were wearing plasters, of the same brand, and in the same place. There’d have been a Facebook group for us – if Facebook had existed! We never did work out why.
The one with the plasters
by Patrick Baglee
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Stories
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1) Phil had been away on holiday for 2 weeks and Derek and I had been working like crazy non stop, 6 days a week.
Phil goes over to use the photocopier and fi nds the copy slightly blurred - a piece of dirt on the glass. “Why hasn’t this glass been cleaned” yells Phil. “What have you lot been doing during the last 2 weeks!!” How he didn’t get the photocopier put on his head…
2) Phil was always looking for new clients and would take great delight when his dedication paid off. We would all be chasing our butts off, struggling to cope with the work we already had and in would walk Phil, beaming from ear to ear. “Guess what, I’ve just picked up another new client.” He couldn’t understand how we didn’t (at the time) share his enthusiasm.
3) Phil comes in one morning and says that Jaguar have just launched their new XJS V12 Convertible - and there’s good and bad news. The bad news is that I’ve just placed an order for one as my new company car. The good news for you is that there is a 12 month wait. A year later his new
APT Days by Ken Howes
Jaguar arrives and after a couple of weeks goes in for its fi rst service. Phil arranges to drop off the car at the dealers on a Sunday and pick it up the following Friday as he will be away up North lecturing at colleges.
On Sunday there is no one at the garage to take his keys so he drops them in the Showroom letterbox (as others had). When he went to collect his car the garage just looked at him and said - “what car - we haven’t got your car!!” Someone had put a magnet on a piece of string, fed it through the letter box and picked up the keys. His pride and joy of three weeks had been stolen - never to be found.
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Betsy’s memories: He once swapped my bright green apple for his dark red apple (caused much confusion!).
Sending dicataphone tapes from his holidays; Clare reciting poems on the dictaphone!; Tom Davidson’s April Fool - typesetting an important job incorrectly – Phil went mad!; Chateau
From Munich with love
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Neuf du Pape on the softball tournament; All the APT lads peeing through the park railings after softball tournament; A student breaking their leg at 5-a-side footie; Phil being invited to posh meals and events and me having to phone ahead to make sure he had steak and chips with Boddingtons instead of posh food with sauces on and champagne; Organising the Munich Beer Festivals (and almost
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By Betsy and Grahame
being allowed to be the only girl to go); Losing his new Jaguar when he took it for a service; Great parties!
Phil was a great person to work with - always willing to help people in their careers. Finally he was great matchmaker!!
Thanks Phil
Graeme’s memories: Many a trip to Munich especially one lunchtime when he insisted on one more drink that had dire consequences for me after waddling 3 odd miles to the Hotel…Oh Shit! Over and above that, just working with him it was an absolute pleasure, fun, an honour and a great experience!
The fi rst thought that came to mind when I thought about my fondest memory of Phil was from mine and Clive’s wedding. As weddings go it was a blast and an all dayer, but by pretty late in the night, me and Clive had already headed off to our room for a bit of ‘us’ time, but Phil dad kept the party going, and as is typical of him and during the course of the celebrations managed to fall off a tall bar stool. However, he did so without spilling a single drop off his much loved and cherished pint!
... He also saved me from walking down the aisle chewing gum by offering me his hand for me to spit it out into...what a star.
As a boss, when he took me on for the job of his PA he said “Dawn you can’t type, you make a shit cup of tea, but your bloody organised, you’ve got the job...”
I would just like to add I loved working for Phil, it was the highlight of my career, I learnt so much, had a huge amount of fun and got really drunk quite often!
Happy 60th
The Matchmaker
by Dawn
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ON OUR FAMILY HOLIDAY TO PONTINS, PHIL NOT ONLY WON THE DONKEY DERBY BUT HE ALSO WON US A FREE HOLIDAY IN THE PROCESS. I ONLY CAME SECOND, BUT BECAUSE MY DONKEY DID A FALSE START BEFOREHAND, EVERYONE PLACED THEIR BETS ON ME, SO WHEN PHIL ZOOMED PAST, HE WAS THE ONLY ONE SMILING! HE STILL HAS THE DONKEY DERBY TROPHY TO PROVE HIS DEFEAT!
Donkey Derbyby R Beryl
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The Right Hook
Phil and I were arguing on our way to night school when he
thumped me on the nose (breaking it)! He then ran off to school
and took his place at his desk. Being the dramatic sister, I
wiped the blood all over my face and neck and peered through
the classroom window at him. Of course he was horrifi ed and
came out apologising and made me promise not to tell dad. The
best of it was, when the hospital offered to straighten my nose
my mum said... “No... it has always been like that”!!!
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by R Kath
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‘The Man From Azerbaijan’
by Sal
As a young, impressionable teenager, I packed my bag ready for what I thought would be a civilised trip to see my Uncle Phil and Auntie Barbara. We would usually go for something to eat, or to the theatre. Not this time...
They took me to Soho and got me drunk! After hours of drinking and tottering behind them from bar to bar, home time arrived.
We embarked on our stroll home, each step made uneasy by my high heels and the amount of alcohol they had made me drink. Barbara and I took off our shoes and staggered in Phil’s shadow. He made the executive decision to fl ag down a rickshaw to take all three of us around the corner.
We squeezed in the back and off we went. In true Phil style, he chatted away to the peddler, fi nding out his story. The peddler became known as ‘the man from Azerbaijan’ who charged us £10 for a two minute journey.
Phil’s the man With a plan Got a pint of lager in his hand He’s Mr. Man U.Fan
Playin’ hard Talkin’ fast Makin’ sure that he won’t be the last He’s Mr. Man U.Fan
Makes a deal With a smile Knowin’ all the time that he goes the last mile He’s Mr. Man U.Fan
Must be seen There’s no doubt He’s the coolest guy with the fastest mouth He’s Mr. Man U.Fan
If you tell him he’s livin’ fast He will say what do you know If you had his kind of address book You’d have more than one place to go oh
Oou...oou...oou oou...oou...
Any place He will play His only concern is if you’ll buy a round He’s Mr. Man U.Fan
To the tune of Stevie Wonder’s
He’s Mista Know-it-all
by Callum & Hazel
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If he shakes Upon a bet He’s the kind of dude that will pay his debt He’s Mr. Man U.Fan
When you say there’s something wrong He’ll tell you to remain strong And if you’re a football fanYou’ll maintain his attention span
He’d be lost without his BabsHe’s the party man with the biggest bar tabsHe sends e-mails at 20 pacesGod knows where his diary fi nds spaces
Oou...oou...oou oou...oou...
Phil’s the man With a plan Got a counterfeit ticketto Bladdered in his hand He’s Mr. Man U.Fan
Look out he’s coming!!
Dum bum bum ba bum bum, Dum bum bum ba bum bum Bum bum bum bum bum Say He’s Mr. Man U.Fan
So happy birthday to you PhilAt least today you won’t pay the billTake your hat off to the man who’s got the plan He’s Mr. Man U.Fan
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The One With The Firemen
In response to Phil’s undoubted generosity we decided that when we got back to blighty we would organise a little visit from some real boys from the brigade.
A proper fi re engine and full crew turned up at Real-Time, marched in and immediately arrested Phil for impersonating a fi reman. The place went silent. Little did we know that he was in the middle of a legal dispute with the fi re service about the basement and they had the right to shut the whole business down.
He was mortifi ed and worried sick when he was arrested, until he was marched outside to meet the laughing fi remen of New Orleans.
Phil had a few choice words that day.
Phil not only organised a typographic awards competition but then funded and organised a group of the team behind it to go to the conference in New Orleans.
On the fi rst night we were constantly asked why the brits were in town, to which we said that we were at a typographic conference, ‘interesting’ they would reply and walk-off. So on the second night we decided that we were on a fi remans conference. Some meat-packers from Texas still think they’ve met the beatles, who have part-time jobs as deep-sea fi remen.
On the last night, the waitresses at our regular restaurant had sussed us out, they’d checked and found no fi remans conferences in town. Phil swore blind that we were actually helicopter pilots and was made to play the washboard with the band on stage as penance. It was not pretty.
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The Swiss Roll Incident
When we started APT we used to work seriously long hours and didn’t have such luxuries as lunch breaks so we would have
lunch boxes or “survival packs” as we called them.
After a while I said to my wife it would be nice to have something totally different now and again
and she said “well you didn’t say you liked the chocolate mini swiss rolls I’ve been
putting in your box, I thought you didn’t like them so I stopped putting them in.”
I responded with “what chocolate rolls, I’ve not had any”. It turns out that Phil had seen a shiny silver wrapper in my lunch box one morning and nicked said chocolate swiss roll before I had even seen it. Unbeknown to me, Phil would check my “survival pack” every morning and if he spotted a swiss roll, he would eat it.
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By Tom Evans
On Phil’s fi rst day at Mook, we were all meeting up for drinks in the evening and Tom and I were coming in a cab to meet Phil in Soho somewhere after he’d met one of our clients for lunch.
Phil called me in the cab and said let’s wind Tom Adams up. So we invented this wild story that he had got too drunk with the client at lunch and had a huge row with him and turned a table over in the restaurant and stormed out and we had lost the client’s business and Phil had decided to leave our Mook before he had even begun.
All this on his fi rst day! Of course it was all made up for Tom A’s benefi t - you should have seen his little face!
Happy 60th
The wind up
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Phil regularly photographs Tits.
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The end . . . for now!