Phil Yates - TrustNews Dec 10
Phil Yates was presented with an honorary degree by Winchester University at the degree ceremony in Winchester Cathedral in October.
Phil Yates was born and brought up in Winchester and is an honorary life member of the City of Winchester Trust. His book Time Gentlemen Please about Winchester’s public houses was published by the Trust in celebration of the Trust’s 50th anniversary. Phil kindly donated the proceeds of the book to the Trust. Phil is also an archivist and historian for the Theatre Royal. As a founding member of the action group, he was a leading campaigner in the fight to save the building from demolition in 1974. He was appointed Honorary Historian and Archivist of the theatre in 1980 and over the years he gathered a great deal of historical material which culminated in the publication of the book Behind the Curtain in 2009.
Over the past 20 years, Phil has written several other books, mainly about Winchester. He worked in the legal profession for 40 years reaching the position of Senior Legal Executive with a firm of Winchester solicitors. He was conscripted to the Yorkshire coal mines during World War II and was among the ‘Bevin Boys’ to be honoured by the Prime Minister with a commemorative medal in 2008. He is an active member of The Bevin Boys Association, attending reunions and parades.