I met Phil when I was 19, after he had a whirlwind romance with my big sister Liz and it was time to meet the Parents! He made a lasting impression on all of us in Ireland , even the locals like a Danny Dyer coming to a quiet rural area in West Cork. I was their bridesmaid at their Wedding and from that time he was  just another member of our family. 
He was the life and soul of any family event and if he wasn’t there it was too quiet! You heard him before you saw him!  From the time I stayed with them on my return to the UK to work he was always there , he got me into watching even more soaps and also into who Go West were, his pateince might have wained when taking me out for driving practice but being the ever helpful Phil he was running around the morning of my driving test trying to find a replacement front lamp so that I wouldn’t get an instant fail. There was also a quiet Phil rarely seen but he was always doing something for someone never with any complaint as long as he got paid with a cup of tea. When he and Liz visited Ireland there was always something to fix especially for ourselves or for our Mother Elsie.Phil was her personal handyman and we can look around and say Phil fixed that. I don’t know what we will do now have to pay for it I suppose!iI have so many memories I could write a book but Phil was the proudest Husband, Father, Grandfather, Son in Law, and son and brother to his own Alchin family. But he wasn’t just a brother in law he was just another one of my brothers! 

I am so glad you were a part of our family and I know whatever family event takes place next you will be there in spirit…

I was