Friends of Hastings Cemetery

DD I36

Helen  Elizabeth Phillips

Beloved wife of

Henry Phillips

 of Garden Lodge, Clive Vale, Hastings.

Who departed life

 21 October 1886  aged 44

'That hears thy voice a Father's voice

Directing for the best

Oh! For the peace of perfect trust

A heart with thee at rest'.

Also of

Henry Phillips,   

Born 14/10/1844

Died  3rd of July 1919

Aged 74

Patty Patricia Phillips, Henry’s second wife, is also buried here.  She died aged 67 on 28th January 1929.

Henry and Albert [see next page] were members of the famous cricketing family of Phillips, Henry, William, Albert, James, and Peter, all five splendid exponents of the game, and playing in a match in 1874 for Hastings against the East Sussex Club at St. Leonards, the five brothers scored 174 out of a total of 241 runs.

Henry, Albert and James, all played for Sussex County, Henry as wicket-keeper, and one of the best the County has ever produced, besides being a good bat.

Henry Phillips appeared in 216 first-class matches as a right handed batsman who bowled left-arm orthodox spin.  He scored 2,998 runs with a highest score of 111 and took 14 wickets with a best performance of four for 33.  Playing for Sussex against the Australians at Brighton, he made his century, and in 1872, Sussex v. Surrey, he stumped five and caught five, securing half the wickets of his opponents.

1878 - a match between the United South of England and 18 of Hastings and District. W. G. Grace captained the South of England team, and the Hastings 18 included the brothers Harry, Jim, and Albert Phillips.

Hastings and St Leonards Observer - Saturday 12 July 1919

The funeral of the late Mr. Harry Phillips……..took place at the Borough Cemetery. The members of the family who attended included his son (Mr. H. Phillips) and his brother (Mr. Albert Phillips). There were a number of floral tributes, including one from the " Observer" Cricket Club. Mrs. Phillip® and her daughter were unable to attend the funeral.

Harry Phillips was a native of Hastings (his father was a rate collector), and by trade he was a cabinet maker but from boyhood to the end of his days he was intensely interested in cricket and played for Sussex for many years, from 1869, continuing as the regular wicket-keeper till he was succeeded Harry Butt.

The notes on  the Phillips family are from the pen of Mr. Thomas Parkin, M.A., J-P. (of Fairseat, High Wickham), than whom the subject can claim no more competent writer:—l was much grieved at reading in the " Observer" of Saturday last the death in his 75th year of Harry Phillips, the once famous county wicket-keeper, who served Sussex in that capacity for twenty-two years.  He was, I believe, the first of his sort who regularly dispensed with a long-stop, and the many feats which he performed before and behind the stumps, must be mentioned his score of 111 runs against the Australians at Brighton.  Those who were fortunate enough witness this innings declared that they had never seen such a superb exhibition of 'cutting', ball after ball being taken off the middle end off-stump and driven away past point and cover.  It was, however, behind the stumps' that was so celebrated and his ten wickets for the Sussex and Surrey match in 1872 still stands as a record.

The late county wicket-keeper was, during my father's ministry at Halton Church, a constant attendant at the Sunday evening services.  He was a man of deep religious convictions, and has now gone to his rest, highly respected and esteemed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Of the five brothers —Albert, Harry, William, James and Peter—who formed the famous cricketing family, all have now passed away with the exception of Albert, the eldest, who was born in August. 1840, and is now within a month or so of his 80th year.  Albert Phillips was one time quite up to county form and the scoring of the first two centuries made in local cricket stands to his credit, and in 1864, June 9th, at Northiam, he carried his bat through the second innings of the Hastings and St. Leonards United for 127 runs, in the return match on the East Hill, Hastings, on August 4th, he went in  first wicket down and was not out for the score of 104 runs.

On July 2nd, 1889 19 veterans of Hastings and St. Leonards (with Wright) contended against 13 young players (with Hobbs).  In this match all five brothers played in the veterans' team. ……..                                             

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