Philip Moore died on Wednesday 20th January 2010.

A service of thanksgiving was held on Tuesday 16th February, at the Chapel, Sutton's Hospital in Charterhouse, London. The address was given by Lord Butler of Brockwell KG and The Master of Charterhouse.

 

The Memorial Service

As a parent and a Governor during the second half of Philip’s time at Mount House I was in a useful position to assess the significance of his extensive service to the boys and to the School generally – service properly recorded elsewhere. On seeing the announcement of Philip’s Memorial Service I therefore naturally attended.

 

It was my first visit to Charterhouse in the City of London, where Philip spent the last years of his life, happily installed in accommodation within the Charity’s ancient and attractive buildings (dating from 1377) and, and as a Brother of Charterhouse, playing a full role in the community’s activity in terms of Christian worship and sociable friendship with the other brethren. Philip’s personality, well known and respected at Mount House, was, by all accounts, ideally suited to the collegiate atmosphere of Charterhouse, where, towards the end of his time, he became Senior Brother.

 

On arrival at the Chapel I felt immediately at home because I met Frances Impey, close friend of Philip, herself one time Assistant Matron during Tony Wortham’s time and grand daughter of Major RNB Campbell a former Headmaster of Mount House. Sharing the same pew was Jon Elworthy (1972 – 1977) and not far away was Jonathan Bussell (1971-1976) and his father Stuart. Amongst other old friends, the congregation consisted mainly of those associated with Philip at Charterhouse.

 

After an opening hymn, the first of two Tributes was given by Lord Butler of Brockwell, a pupil at Orley Farm Prep School during Philip’s first teaching appointment after the war. Lord Butler was inspired by, and recalled with clarity and humour, Philip’s skills as teacher in various capacities. Lord Butler never forgot the debt he owed to Philip as a result; doubtless Philip in turn was pleased to see his former pupil rise to be Cabinet Secretary.

 

The second Tribute was paid by the Master of Charterhouse who spoke with affectionate warmth and respect of Philip’s 18 years as a Brother. Quiet and reserved Philip may have been, but equally certainly he fulfilled a central role as friend, adviser and mentor of many other Charterhouse residents.

 

After Chapel those present enjoyed a generous tea and much mingling and conversation, thus enabling a broad perspective to be drawn of Philip’s long life and dedicated service to many generations.

 

Jonathan Trafford

 

Philip Moore (taken from the 1982 edition of Fanfare).

For exactly eighteen years the initials PCM represented, for hundreds of Mount House boys, organisation, sanity and a caring, inquiring mind. Arriving in time to organise his first of many swimming galas at Mount House in July 1964, he took up his appointment as Assistant Headmaster in the autumn of that year. He continued to apply his highly professional skills to that task until his retirement in July 1982, and this school can surely never have made a wiser appointment.

 

He came to Mount House via Malvern College, Bristol University, distinguished war service with the Gloucester Regiment taking part in the Normandy landings, and then various teaching appointments in the Middle East, East Africa and in England. A gifted, numerate person he had specialised in mathematics all his teaching career, preparing imminent scholars for great achievements and bringing light and hope to the often distraught world of the Common Entrance candidates.

 

There were many activities at Mount House where his vigour, inventiveness and talent for organisation soon began to make itself felt. This magazine was born under his editorship in late 1964 and for its first few years was published twice a year. He started the Pathfinders in 1964 as well and continued to run them with a freshness and pride that was self-evident, until he left. He initiated the system of 'fortnightly reports' and the follow-up interviews that each boy had with either the Headmaster or himself. As the school increased in size this became an even more important factor in the academic life. The 1st Soccer came under his care for two years during an inter-regnum period, and during every summer he watched with a skilled, experienced eye over activities in the swimming pool; Bronze, Silver and Gold awards for Life-saving; and the coaching of competitive swimmers.

 

Away from Mount House he took a leading part in the Society of Assistant Teachers in Preparatory Schools (SATIPS) being a Council member and Editor of the Society's magazine 'News and Views!' for a period in the 'seventies'. It was during this time that he initiated the SATIPSATHLON, a triathlon competition (swim/run/shoot) for preparatory schoolboys which still takes place annually in the summer holidays at Charterhouse and it was there that he organised the first of three from 1974.

 

In the world of school drama he held uncompromisingly the educational approach that providing the players received benefit in terms of character creation and so on, then any audience appreciation was simply a bonus. His many productions over the years from 'The Imperial Nightingale' in 1965 begat a love of the theatre in a multitude of boys nurtured in such productions as 'Lord of the Flies', the musicals 'Oliver' and a homespun review called 'Sweetcorn', and ending with Obey's 'Noah'.

 

Yet it is to the field of discipline and pastoral care, both of colleagues and boys, to which PCM brought his greatest gifts at this school. He was that old-fashioned product, an honourable man whose word was his bond; and to young minds, 'beset in a sea of troubles', he showed with startling clarity, patient guidance and relentless efficiency how self-discipline can mould a truly Christian character. The very young who heard his delightful talks at Sunday services can never have had any doubt as to the rock of rectitude on which their character would need to be built.

 

He is the most caring of colleagues to work with, sympathetic and supportive to the demands of family life and, when asked for his advice comes from much wisdom. We shall all be the poorer without his modesty and guidance.