We are saddened to note the passing of Philip Ashcroft, long-term resident of Haddenham and member of the Baptist Church. Philip was very well known in the Parish church and Aston Sandford before his wife Valerie gave up playing the organ, and he returned to his Baptist roots.
Philip's funeral will be held at Amersham Crematorium at 1.45pm on Thursday 12th November.
Below is a short tribute, kindly provided by Bill Johnston.
Philip Giles Ashcroft was born in November 1926 in Stourbridge (Worcs.) the second of three children. His Father was a District Tax Inspector, and when Philip was young the family moved to Newcastle upon Tyne. Philip attended the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle, although his education was disrupted by the war when the school was evacuated to the Lake District.
Philip had a spell in the Army, but studied Law at University and then trained and qualified as a solicitor. After qualification he held a number of increasingly significant legal positions, including a period in the Treasury Solicitor's Department and as the 'In House' lawyer of British Telecom during the period when it was privatised.
Philip married, and had one son, Richard, (who is Professor of Bioethics at Queen Mary, University of London) and later on, just before retirement, he married for the second time, Valerie, and they moved to Haddenham during the late 1980's.
Philip was brought up in the Baptist Church, and was a member of Wyclif Baptist Church in Newcastle for a number of years. He was, however very ecumenical in outlook and was a member of the free church in Hampstead Garden Surburb, and then regularly attended the Parish Church in Haddenham for a number of years, before joining Haddenham Baptist Church, which he attended very regulalry up until a few weeks ago. He was also a member of the local PROBUS Club, whose friendship he appreciated greatly.
In the last few years Philip suffered from Parkinson's disease, which he dealt with in his own inimitable quiet way, but his undoubted substantial intellect continued until very late in his life. He was an active member of the Parkinson's Society, for as long as he was able.
Philip is survived by his wife, Valerie, his siblings Anthony and Rosalind, his son Richard, and Grandson Kes.
Philip was a quiet and understated person, but a man of substantial ability and generosity, and those who would like to know more about him could do no better than to look at his entry in Who's Who.
