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May 10, 2007
About Philip Pettifor
Philip Pettifor is one of the main creators of the current campaign to save the British Public Library Service. Sadly he died, far too young and far too suddenly, earlier this year. We have made this link in his honour and memory.
Philip Pettifor was one of the most cultured people you could have met. He read widely and digested everything; he could recollect astonishing quantities of English literature and history. Yet his early genius was a musician. He was sent to Cambridge as a choir scholar and later became a leading choral tenor in the best choirs of the country.
He made his living as a communications and press agent who worked for many leading British companies advising them how to handle their relations with journalists and with their own staff. In this field he was one of the most respected and liked experts. There was no side to him and he was one of the clearest thinkers one could have met. He not only had a terrific sense of humour and fun but he was also a deeply loyal friend and supporter of those with whom he worked. Many people turned to him in crisis or difficulty and at those times he was a wonderful ally.
He was a natural to the book industry and became involved in communications strategies for both Sherratt and Hughes and then Waterstone's in the late 80's. When the charity Libri was trying to define its view on the state of public libraries in 2001 it was natural to turn to Philip to ask him "What are we trying to say?"
It was Philip's idea that the report "Who's in Charge?" should have the title it carried; and it is a tribute to him that so often it is that question which is raised when there are discussions about how to make improvements in libraries. The report was subjected to his heavy editing skill and has stood scrutiny because of that work.
He wanted to make sure that the national press picked up the problems that were raised by that work and to his great pleasure he obtained more press mention for Libri and the report in the year of it publication than all other public library press combined- including that from the professional and ministerial bodies and the minister himself. Everyone now says- "well that report got a lot of attention" - and that is entirely because of Philip.
I thought it was the best publicity and press campaign I have ever seen in the book publishing industry.
In the year following he created a website and a further report called "From University to Village Hall" which is a wonderful and truthful portrayal of the dismal state of the service. All Philip's material from that website is now available here in this page in his memory.
He was my best friend for twenty years and I talked to him regularly and constantly during the last couple of years when we worked on libraries. We were very close indeed and on the day before he died he made me promise not to give up our work. I miss him greatly.
Posted by Tim Coates at May 10, 2007 7:04 PM
Comments
I worked as Philip's secretary at Pettifor Morrow for ten years and I have extremely fond memories of him. He was charasmatic, interesting and funny and there was never a dull moment - he really kept me on my toes. He brought his choir to sing at my wedding in Dartmouth which made the occasion very special. I still think about him often - and still use the reference he gave me when I left to have my son - I photocopied it many times because he was so generous with his praise. I would like to send my love to Suzannah, Beatrice and the boys.
Posted by: Sam King at October 16, 2007 6:43 PM