'A real Sudbury lad': Family lead tributes to devoted life peer Lord Andrew Phillips

One of Sudbury’s most prominent public servants has been remembered for his 'total devotion' to the town and his family, following his death at the weekend.

Tributes have been paid this week in memory of Sudbury life peer Lord Andrew Phillips OBE, who died on Easter Sunday, weeks after celebrating his 84th birthday.

The former Liberal Democrat politician was widely known for touching all aspects of Sudbury life for decades, alongside his career as a solicitor and his 17-year spell serving in the House of Lords.

His roles included president of the Sudbury Society, vice-president of Gainsborough’s House, and co-founder and chairman of the Sudbury Ephemera Archive.

After being named an honorary freeman by the Sudbury Freemen’s Society last year, Lord Phillips described himself as a 'Sudburian through and through' .

He told the Suffolk Free Press in October: “I was brought up here, started my schooling here, qualified as a solicitor here, lived in the town for the last 30 years, and I’m still involved in numerous local organisations.

“I don’t say this to pat myself on the back, but rather to show how deeply involved I am with this wonderful town and community.

“I’m profoundly interested and engaged in this town, which has a remarkable history.

“I believe fervently in the common good and, I think that if you ask the vast majority of people in this town, they would say the same.”

His wife, Penelope, with whom he had three children and five grandchildren, stated this week that her husband had always held a very optimistic view of life and 'a benign view of humanity'.

“He saw the good in people,” said Penelope. “He just enjoyed life so much and so many aspects of it.

“He adored Sudbury. It was almost a running joke in our family, because he had trained our grandchildren so that, when he asked them where the centre of the world is, they would shout back ‘Sudbury’.

“He was a really Sudbury lad and he had his fingers in most Sudbury pies. He was absolutely delighted to be made a freeman, which meant a lot to him. I think he would like to be remembered as being devoted to the town and promoting voluntary activity.”

Their daughter, Caitlin, added: “From a family point of view, one of the things that always comes up is he had a very mischievous side and a great sense of fun.”

Born in Long Melford, Mr Phillips studied at Cambridge University and qualified as a solicitor at his father’s Sudbury law firm.

He then worked as a partner at multiple law practices, before starting his own firm in London in the 1970s.

Specialising in charity law, he became involved in various charitable endeavours, including helping to distribute National Lottery money as part of the Community Fund, and co-founding the Solicitors Pro Bono Group.

Throughout this time, he kept in close touch with Sudbury matters, notably playing a lead role in the opposition to proposals to demolish the Corn Exchange to enable a supermarket development.

His wife Penelope told the Free Press: “They triumphed and it eventually turned into the library.

He really was devoted to Sudbury. Even when he was in London and had his law firm, he never lost his connection to Sudbury.

“I think Sudbury was quite a haven for him, because he had a very unhappy experience in his prep school, so his experience in Sudbury as a young boy was quite short and something he looked back on as a golden age.”

Mr Phillips also became active in politics from the 1970s onwards, firstly for the Labour Party and then the Liberal Democrats, contesting three general elections and the first European Parliament election.

In 1998, he was made a life peer as Baron Phillips of Sudbury, sitting in the House of Lords as a Liberal Democrat until retiring in 2015.

For almost three decades, he also featured as the so-called “legal eagle” on BBC Radio 2’s Jimmy Young Show, and he spent 10 years as chancellor of Essex University.

“He had a very engaging personality, but he always had a very serious side to him,” added Penelope.

“He was very aware that he was privileged, but never lost compassion for people less fortunate.

“What drew him into politics was a sense of obligation and he never lost that sense of equality. He was a passionate supporter of the NHS and state education.

“He could be difficult, because he was so determined. He was totally undomesticated and couldn’t cook for toffee, but he was totally devoted to his family.

“He was a great family man, but very much a public person.

“I’ve never been a particularly public person, and I admired his confidence. He enjoyed sport, the arts and was a very loyal friend.”

Following the announcement of his death, a wealth of tributes were made in recognition of Lord Phillips’ contributions to Sudbury.

Mark Bills, director of the Gainsborough’s House Society, said: “He was always a great support to Gainsborough’s House, and our president for many years.

“He will be greatly missed. Our deepest condolences to his family at this difficult time.”

AFC Sudbury, where Lord Phillips was president until 2019, also confirmed its players would wear black armbands and observe a minute’s silence ahead of its home match with Brentwood on Saturday.

“Our sincere condolences go to his family along with our heartfelt thanks for the contribution that he has made to the continued success of our club,” the statement read.