PCC Member of the Month: Philip Morgan

The tenth in our series of pen portraits of members of St Chad’s Parochial Church Council features Philip Morgan, a relative newcomer to the village, who has just taken over as churchwarden in succession to Iain Coleman

My full-circle journey to be churchwarden at St Chad’s

Philip with the Bishop of Worcester — Philip, during his time in Worcestershire, is seen with the Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Rev Dr John Inge

May I introduce myself: I’m Philip Morgan and I moved to the village just under two years ago and bought David Baxters home, The Rickyard. I hadn’t realised that the role of churchwarden came with the house.

I immediately joined the congregation at St Chad’s and I have been made to feel most welcome by everyone I have met. Considering I have only just arrived in the village it’s incredible the number of people who have come up to me and said “Oh, you are Hilary’s husband”. I suppose that’s not surprising as Hilary was born in the village and many of her antecedents were long-standing village families: Bolland, Brookes, Caddick.

I have joined the Band of Bellringers. Geoffrey Dann was aware that I had been Churchwarden at my previous parish, Teme Valley North, and suggested I applied for the role in Pattingham as there was a vacancy for which there were no volunteers. This I agreed to – and here I am.

A bit about me. I went to school as a boarder at Brewood Grammar School (now a middle school) and subsequently to Wolverhampton Polytechnic (now University). My first job was with the Ministry of Agriculture at Woodthorne, Tettenhall (now houses).

I then changed career and joined Barclays Bank at Chapel Ash. Over the years I worked in a number of roles, including Inspector, Risk Manager, at Head Office and ending up full circle as a Corporate Manager at Wolverhampton.

I retired early and had the privilege of breeding Dexter cattle, Ryeland sheep and Gloucester Old Spot pigs on my thirty acre smallholding in Worcestershire.

I have been involved in a number of charities and organisations: a board member of Maggs Day Centre; County Organiser for the Farming Community Network, a christian charity; Vice Chairman and Trustee for King Edwards School in Stourbridge.

My hobbies are simple, Bridge, Birdwatching (not twitching), bellringing, cooking and wine; anyone who can help out with the latter two is always welcome . . .