The gentle person that was Robert Phillips, or ‘Robert’ to so many, will never know how much he taught us all.
Cambridge RSA stalwart Paul Murphy, left, and resident Robert Phillips who laid a posy on behalf of his parents at the Anzac Day commemorative service in 2022. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
ROBERT D.M. PHILLIPS – November 13 1952 – May 8 2025
His passing showed how much he was admired here for his caring, helpful demeanour, his manners and friendliness.
His farewell at Trinity St Paul’s Church would have made him proud. His smile would have widened at the tributes, and he would have been tickled pink to have been carried atop ‘Flick’ the fire engine he knew so well.
Robert’s many qualities were mentioned at that service, but it was a written tribute by one of Trinity’s parishioners, read out by minister Reverend Mohu Lolohea, that drew an approving hum.
“Robert’s place in Heaven is reserved,” she read. “He is a very special person in God’s sight… unlike most of us, who have to qualify for entry.”
Robert’s parents Don and Thelma Phillips were living at Mangakino when Robert was born in 1952, the eldest of three; siblings Margaret and Brian were at his farewell.
It was Don’s WW2 story that inspired Robert to wear his dad’s medals at Anzac and Armistice events in Cambridge. Don was one of very few Kiwi survivors of the Nino Bixio, an Italian ship carrying 432 Allied prisoners of war, torpedoed in 1942 in the Mediterranean.
At war’s end, Don eventually settled in Cambridge. Robert attended Cambridge East School before going to Hamilton for further tuition. He left school at 15 to work a raft of jobs in the Cambridge area. He did paper rounds, joined Cambridge Transport, did seasonal work at the cheese factory, worked for a tyre company in Empire St, then after a spell at Kinleith, south of Tokoroa, came back and joined the freezing works, did farm work and worked on the railways.
Patrick Shannon and resident Robert Phillips at Armistice Day commemorations Sunday 13 November, 2022
After Don’s death in 1994, Robert looked after his mother until she died in 1997. He met Joy in Tauranga, and the pair shared their life for a few years. Robert took care of her until she passed away.
Back in Cambridge, he became known as a wonderful neighbour, a regular at Grey Power meetings and Volunteer Fire Brigade competitions and at many town gatherings.
Pharmacist Kevin Burgess said he deeply admired Robert, saying life doesn’t often throw up characters like him. “His message was that we don’t need material goods to make an impact in life. Cambridge is poorer without Robert.”
Jon Broadley, who was there with fellow Cambridge RSA man Tony Hill, said: “I first met Robert when he came up to me in his camo uniform and cap, introduced himself and asked me my name. He did that for the next 15 years, twice a year at commemorative events and several times in the street. I must have grown on him because he stopped asking.”
Deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk mused on how many chairs Robert must have moved in his lifetime. She recently played checkers with him at Cambridge Lifecare, and said even with two bandaged fingers, he won.
Robert Phillips, who died on May 8, loved trucks all his life. Photo: supplied
He couldn’t read or write well, said his niece Melissa Phillips, but he sent cards, always signing them ‘Robert D.M. Phillips’.
His sister-in-law Cecelia Phillips read a statement from Warwick Roberts, who wasn’t there but had known Robert since 1995. Warwick and Don had met at an early Lodge meeting here, and Warwick said Robert was blessed with his father’s ability to always think of others.
Cambridge Transport’s Jim Sullivan said Robert worked for him as a teenager. They became firm friends… he recalled his uncanny memory for remembering which vehicle went with each driver.
A relative of Joy’s, Vaughn Richards, said Robert had embraced their family warmly and long continued asking after each person’s wellbeing.
Illness didn’t stop Robert caring. He called fire chief Dennis Hunt from Cambridge Lifecare recently to apologise for not being able to help at the annual competition, and to ask for an update on how the team did.
Robert Phillips’ casket leaves the church after last Friday’s funeral service. Driving ‘Flick’ is Cambridge firefighter Ethan McKee. Photo: Viv Posselt
Cambridge RSA stalwart Paul Murphy, left, and resident Robert Phillips after laying a wreath at the Cenotaph during the Armistice Day service in 2023.
