Tribute to Philip Makepeace
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| • Philip Makepeace |
Leave your tributes or memories of Philip Makepeace
by emailing: sally.fairbrother@archant.co.uk
A VILLAGE has come together to mourn the death of retired chartered architect Philip Makepeace, of Beer.
His widow Ursula said this week she was “deeply moved” by the many condolence cards and offers of sympathy she had received following his death in Nuffield Hospital, Exeter, on Sunday, May 13.
“The response of the village has been second to none; everywhere was covered in cards and there were such nice comments about Philip,” she said. “This is a wonderful village and a wonderful place to live.”
Mr Makepeace, 82, had suffered the blood disorder myelodysplasia for three years.
At his funeral last week, the Reverend Jeremy Trew spoke of the former tank commander in India during World War Two.
Born in London and educated at Dover and Bristol grammar schools before studying architecture at the Royal West of England School of Architecture (Bristol University), Philip joined the premises department of Lloyds Bank, Birmingham, then the architects’ department of Mitchell & Butlers, becoming group chief architect to Bass the brewery, where he remained until 1982.
The youngest of four, he met second wife Ursula in 1969. The couple moved to Beer in December 1983, and soon became involved in village life. They originally ran Pegasus Cottage as a small restaurant before Philip set up in private practice specialising in planning applications and, more particularly planning appeals, until 2005.
“He was a chairman of the parish council planning committee and took it very seriously. I have had some moving comments from councillors,” said Mrs Makepeace.
While living in Dover, Philip Makepeace sailed actively and kept up his interest in sailing in Beer, becoming flag officer at Beer Sailing Club, meticulously recording sailing results and ensuring sailors’ safety for 10 years.
As well as being a good cook, fisherman and photographer, Philip, like his wife, loved gardening and spent many hours growing cucumbers, melons and tomatoes.
Holder of a pilot’s licence, he also enjoyed aircraft archaeology and meticulously researched the crash of a German fighter plane that crashed in a field outside Beer, eventually tracking down the plane’s pilot and twice inviting him to stay in Beer.
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