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 RICHARD PHILLIPS OBITUARY

Richard Phillips passed away in his sleep at the age of 85 on the night of January 30/31, and the world of music has lost one of its great promoters, champions and entrepreneurs.

He has left a huge legacy in the West Midlands, as Helen Beecroft, who succeeded him as director of Warwick Arts Society and Leamington Music, says:

“Richard was such a wonderful man - a true inspiration and an immense force for good in his unceasing championship of music. His incredible career in the arts has brought music to the ears and hearts of so many; from his first job at Sadler's Wells Opera, via the Yorkshire Arts Association, Warwick Arts Society, and Leamington Music, Richard created or directed 109 festivals including founding the York Early Music Festival and the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and his amazing work earned him many much-deserved awards - not least the MBE for services to music and the arts in 2016.”

He built an impressive network of the finest artists, both national and international, whom he brought to perform in Warwick and Leamington (and if you were lucky enough to relax with him over a drink he could tell many, scurrilous, revealing stories about a few of them). His particular interest was Czech music, and he was generous in his invitations to performers and composers from that country to come to make music in Warwickshire.

Richard cultivated an initially prickly persona, not suffering fools gladly, but once you got to know him, as I was privileged to do, he was wonderful, humorous company, the gruff exterior concealing a heart of gold. He made an indelible mark on the Midlands musical scene for which every music-lover should be eternally grateful.

Christopher Morley

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