Page 48 - Redditch People

Redditch People

The New Redditch Library as planned. Phase 1 on the RH side was built, but Phase 2 on the
left never got off the drawing board.

(Source: Redditch Library)

Life and Times of Philip Davis

Apart from two years training at Liverpool, Philip lived and worked in Redditch all his
working life.

He had attended St Stephen’s Infants and Junior Schools in Peakman Street and the
County High School, going to work in the library at first as an untrained assistant.

On his return from Liverpool he committed himself to his love of learning and cataloguing.
His life’s work was centred on producing a detailed catalogue of the local collection, of
which he became an expert. In that role, he became a trusted collaborator to a number
of local authors. His consistent courtesy, accuracy – and amount – of knowledge, linked
with his passion for his work made him well known within Redditch circles. Clearly
identifiable in his white summer jacket, or his grey shirt or pullover, he strove to deliver
a high quality of service at all times, and in later years had to fight to maintain it.

Privately he cared for his parents, supporting them during his father’s lengthy illness
(Parkinson’s Disease) and later in his mother’s decline into dementia.

He never married, but was an enthusiastic and supportive uncle to his two nephews.

He loathed being in the limelight personally but his place in the exhibition shows how his
professionalism and attention to detail, his commitment to excellence within his sphere
of expertise, coupled with a dry sense of humour and a clear sense of the absurd, all
contributed to him becoming a Redditch ‘personality’. He found this personally difficult.

He was, first and foremost a cataloguer. He saw cataloguing as a means to an end – to
access knowledge. To find out something you need to know where to find it!

Page: 48 © RLHS 2015