Where do you start? Some interests are age-related and are possibly a phase to be experienced and some interests are for life.

Apart from the music, which was present from being a very young child, most of Phil's interests have been broadly those of mechanical interest or those of a natural interest. When asked about any interest in sport, for example, the answer is usually "I like wintersports which include skis or blades - including bobsleigh, luge, skeleton etc, or else it has to have a gearbox, so include in that, Formula One, World Superbikes and Moto GP!"

AVIATION

PhilPhil following his trial lesson in 1996.

The aircract was a Piper Warrior II reg. G-RSKR

Throughout his teens, and living only a bike-ride away from Barton Aerodrome, near Manchester, Phil was able to watch the local flying club activities either from the aerodrome itself, or watch the small aircraft overflying his home about 3 or 4 nautical miles away.

Following a visit to the new terminal building at Manchester International Airport (then "Ringway" Airport) in 1964, he embarked on a two or three nights a week cycle to Ringway - a 34 mile round trip. This continued until first, he passed his motorcycle test in November 1967 and then his driving test in February 1968, after which the frequency of visits may have only dropped slightly, but the comfort factor increased severally!

Despite the interest in aircraft and having watched the transition from predominantly turboprop to jet propulsion, Phil was very reluctant to fly. Full stop. To someone who has flown regularly all their life, someone elses reluctance seems irrational - but that's how it is.

This was the state of affairs until April 1996 (what is a mere 30 years between friends) when he decided to bite the bullet and have a trial flying lesson at Shoreham Airport in West Sussex. A Private Pilot's Licence beckoned and Phil enjoyed the challenge of flying the Piper Warrior ll. Having also enjoyed 18 flights since 2001 as a passenger in commercial jets, the reluctance to fly has long since diminished.

Phil having just landed at Sandown Aerodrome IOW in April 2002.

The aircraft was Piper Warrior II reg. G-BTDV

MOTORBIKES

Phil on his Honda CBF600S motorbike in 2005

Phil has been riding motorbikes for over 40 years after passing his test in 1967.

TRACTORS

Phil's all-time favourite... the Massey Ferguson 135