Tributes to Bognor Royal British Legion stalwart

Doug Phillips became involved with the annual Remembrance Sunday ceremony in 1990 as the ceremonial officer of the town's branch of the Royal British Legion.

He combined that with the work of the parade marshal from 1996 and continued to organise the hundreds of individuals of all ages as they marched through the streets to the war memorial up to last November.

He joined the Legion in 1970 and held many positions during those 40 years. They included ten years as chairman, from 1990, followed by two years as president and a further 17 years as the vice-president.

He twice spent nine years as the branch's fundraising officer and was on its service committee for 22 years. His hard work resulted in several awards. Among them were the Legion's national council gold badge, a life member certificate and a badge for meritorious service.

Current Bognor branch chairman Tony Tucker said: "Doug was Mr Royal British Legion in Bognor. I worked with him for 21 years and he was a real stalwart for the Legion."

Betty Underhill, the president of the Legion's Sussex county women's section, said: "We will all miss Doug. He was a highly respected member."

The funeral service for Mr Phillips was held at Bognor Regis Methodist Church on March 8.

His coffin was carried into the service past about nine Legion standards in tribute to his unstinting work for the charity.

Hundreds of mourners packed the church. It was followed by an interment at the town cemetery.Mr Phillips passed away peacefully on February 16 aged 80.

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