DetectingWales.com

It brings me great sadness to inform all Detecting Wales members and visiting guests that I had a phone call off Casa Dos (Kev) earlier to let me know that fellow DW member Farmer Phil has sadly passed away.

Kev has been trying to contact some of Phil's detecting friends all afternoon, but has been unsuccessful for various reasons, so apologies if you are hearing the news here first.

From what Kev has told me unfortunately Phil had a heart attack yesterday and passed away. A great loss and a man who will be missed by all. Phil always had a smile on his face and would love to chat away about detecting - its all very sad.

My condolences to Phil's family and friends.

Neil

iv lost a good work m8, and my metal detecting friend,iv known Phil for 30 years and got him into detecting a few years back when i asked him at work can me and a friend come on his dads land ,he sorted it out and when we use to go over there Phil started to get intrested in it and the rest is history ,myself and Mark (melonhead)are gutted it wont be the same detecting without our good detecting friend , Phil was a great friend and a true gent , i will never forget him . R.I.P. Phil Jones .

Well, what sad news.

May I also convey my condolences to Phil's family and friends.

I well recall many a friendly chat with Phil on several Dw rallies in 2010. He was a very amiable and interesting person to talk to. Very knowledgeable, warm hearted with great enthusiasm for the hobby.

So sorry to hear about the passing away of such a fine man.

We send our Condolences to Phils family, our thoughts are with you.

Gosh, a bit of a shock news.

I only really spoke to him on one occasion but remember it well. I remember thinking what a nice bloke
he was as we chatted for a good five minutes or so at his car as we packed away at a rally.

I've no doubt he'll be really missed by his family and friends.

ive only spoken to phill a couple of times and found he was a honest geniuine bloke,im shocked and saddned to hear of his passing,my deepest condolences to phills family and friends.

I'm stunned by this news, you couldn't meet a kinder more generous man than Phil.

I recently had the opportunity to detect on one of his farms and when some of us didn't find much he was so keen to invite us out again.

He was someone who never had a bad word to say about anything or anyone, and the world will be a poorer place without him.

My sincere condolences to Phil's family, colleagues and friends.

im am sorry to here this sad news .i always stopped and had a chat with phil out on the field of every ralley..a real nice guy who i will miss very much..my condolences are with his family and friends.
ray.

Although I only spoke to Phil at rallies he always talked to me as if he had known me for years, a larger than life character with a great dry sense of humour, when I mentioned any of his finds he put it down to beginners luck.

Phil you will be sadly missed by all who had the privilege to know you, and the hobby will be much the poorer for your passing.
God bless.

Please pass on our deep sympathies to his family.

Geoff and family

Oh my word, what a shock, got to know Phil through Brecon MDC and DW rallies.
Always had the time for others, true Gent.
Condolences to his family and close friends.

I only had the pleasure of knowing Phil for three years but he was one of lifes gentlemen. The world is a sadder place without him. Always jovial and willing to spend time explaining things when others would have run out of patience. I will not only miss him for the detecting but at work where he was one of the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Keep an eye on us from above big guy.  :'(

that is shocking news...phil will be missed by all of us who knew him....condolences to his family.....RIP phil

Very sad news to hear of a fellow detectorist - especially at this time of year - so sorry for his family and all that who knew him. RIP

I am gutted , I only just read this post as I've not been online this evening. I always managed to chat to Phil every rally and had the priveledge to detect with Him , melonhead and ozzyhead jo on the field he had all his William Silvers. Just to repeat what everyone else has already said, what a smashing bloke he was. My condolences to the family and of course Casa , melonhead and Jo

God Bless Phil you'll be missed friend.

I heard about Phil,s Passing earlier today .
It came as a total shock.
It makes you think, you should cherish your friends because you never know how long you,ll have them for.

Rest in peace Phil

I only knew Phil briefly during his membership of Brecon club, but would like to add my condolences to his family and friends who knew him better. I shall remember him as always wearing a smile.

RIP Phil

phil was a genuine one of a kind gentleman he was one of only a handfull of people i have met in my life who wanted to do all he could to help and give any assitance and would take nothing in return if he drove us to rallys he would take no petrol money .on weekends at his farms he would keep kev me and jo and anyone else with us well supplyed with cakes crisps and pop and when he found anything special he allways wished it was one of us who had found it he was allways happier if someone else found a hammy espesially if it was joanne he would be over the moon                  i am going to miss you phil and close with his end of detecting day catchprase "GENTLEMEN ITS BEEN A PLEASURE"

I was so shocked to read about Phil passing away. How very, very sad. I didn't get the chance to meet him but did talk to him through DW. He was kind enough to invite me to join a him and a few others on a dig to give me the chance of detecting some good land.
This invitation came out of the blue after a discussion on the site. It proves to me what a Gentleman he was and how caring of others. He will be greatly missed by all who had any contact with him.
My condolences go to his family. Our thoughts will be with them.

Val Beechey

I'm very sorry to hear the bad news of Phil passing away,I never met him but it sounds as though he was a true gentleman. My deepest condolences to his family.

Sad news :( I only met him once - at a rally, and as everybody has already said he was a genuine nice bloke. Condolences to his friends and family.
RIP Phil

R.I.P Phil.........What a bloke

What tragic news - Tyna and I spent a lovely day detecting with Phil and his friends just a few weeks ago - it is beyond belief that he has passed away.  Such a generous gent, not only inviting us to go out with him, but feeding and watering us as well.  His easy and friendly ways made us feel like we had known him for years.
Our thoughts are with Phil's family - I am sure that everyone who knew Phil will take comfort in knowing that he was a genuine and great man who made everyone he was with feel special.
Debbie and Tyna

O.M.G.  That is a shock,  i didn't know him personaly but he seemed a really nice guy,  rest in peace Phil,

i didnt get to meet phil but he replied to a couple of my posts and seemed like a genuinly nice guy.what a shame.r.i.p phil

So sad and shocked to hear of the passing of a true gentleman and fellow detectorist.Please convey my condolances to his family.
Al

ive just heard the sad news on phil passing away ,and id just like to say what a fine ,generous,kind person phil was . i had the good fortune of detecting with phil mark kev and anne one bank holiday ,the weather was great and we managed to make a few finds the memories from that weekend will stay with me forever, the world will be a poorer place without him .my heart goes out to his family and freinds .RIP phil

I've just read the tragic news of the passing of Farmer Phil, I'm truly shocked  what a nice chap, we always had a chat & a laugh on the rallies
My thoughts are with his family at this very sad time
Phil
 

this is for Phil, went to bed Xmas eve still thinking of you m8 had a not very good night sleep, got up Xmas morning still thinking of you and  a lot of tears as well , and the times we had out detecting you me and melonhead,did not feel like opening prezzies Ann and i talked for about an hour about when Ann use to take me over to see you and melonhead detecting while i was still in the wheel chair and the first time you meet Ann and gave her a bottle of wine and chocs because she was looking after your detecting m8.....Ann misses you melonhead misses you and everyone misses you but we will never forget you good friend.

What sad news, I only spoke to Phil a couple of times on rallies but on each occasion found him to be a pleasant and helpful person. My deepest condolences to his family and friends.

What an absolute loss to life. A true genuine caring human being. A massive loss to all who knew him and the detecting community. Why, Why, Why,,,,,,,, Phil you were and always will be a true gent sir. Have many a tale to tell about days out with Phil and how he bought together such a great bunch of people for a days detecting on many an occasion. A more caring sharing person you will not have met. I miss you Phil.

 I just dont understand why Phil . He  was a true gentleman always want to help Phil you will be remembered has a top man . All my sympathy goes to Phil family with a lots of respect for a unique  and generous  Phil.you will be truly  missed .i dont know wat to say i am so sad right now .que dieux te protege mon ami . Nordine . Michelle  and familly.

Oh no!  I had only just met Phil at the last rally and was really looking forward to seeing him at the next one.  And just before Christmas too.  Such very sad news.  :(

i would like to say rest in peace and bst wishes to his family and friends..im sure he will be chatting to the ancient leaders who embossed the coins we all search for...
you will be sadly missed
the detecting scotland members!!!

very sad news, rest in peace Phil. my condolences go out to his family

I am struggling to take in this sad news.
I had the good fortune to park next to Farmer Phil, Melonhead,Jo, Casa & Anne at both Ludlow rallies and (having been mistaken for the FLO at the gate !!!) as a lone female newbie was fighting the urge to clear off back home PDQ when Phil & the gang made me so welcome I stayed and enjoyed every minute. After Ludlow 2 when I found nothing but trash he emailed to check I got home OK and not to be discouraged. Then when I found my first hammy (I have only found 3 coins) guess who emailed to congratulate ?? He was a credit to this hobby & DW.
My heart goes out to his family and all his friends  - he will be missed by so many people.
I would also like to support the idea of a rally in Phils memory.

Thats terrible news. Only spoke to him briefly at a couple of rallies but he seemed a decent,honest man. Will miss not getting to know him better at future rallies.

what really sad news at this time i can't add any more than whats been said but he will be missed by me for sure we used to have many a chat and nothing was to much trouble to say he will be missed is an understatement my condolences go to the family.Viv

I would also like to add my condolences to the family and friends of one of the nicest and friendliest blokes you could wish to meet. He was an absolute gent in every sense of the word.
R.I.P. Phil.....mate

a true gent in everyway, a great detecting friend ,we will all miss you Phil.

oh god , seen this picture is so sad , thinking it was yesterday i was talking to him and now will never see Phil again , i do think a special rally should be done to pay respect for Phil ,and familly , i am up for it and hope a big numbers of DW members will agree, Please lets organise this events or even contribute some money for Phil family one of the other will be very nice gesture and that show how DW members are good people .

Thank you.

Nordine.

I don't think I really ever spoke to Phil; mores the pity, as judging by people's comments he seems to have been a nice bloke who was well liked.  I think a rally to raise funds for Phil's family is an excellent idea and I would attend if it were to go ahead.  My condolences to Phil's family and friends. 

i reconise the rally from that photo kev its ludlow i can see aikonbizz's  (lynne) passat in the background that was a good one im sure you had a hammerd each and aikonbizz was over the moon with a edward sixpence

I am off to Farmer Phil's funeral in half an hour. Can't believe it. Last chance for me to pay my respects to a true gentleman, Phil, I feel honoured to have known you and detected with you mate. R.I.P.

FARMER PHIL funeral went off really nice for him earlier today,myself Auntie Ann,Melonhead(Mark)& mark's wife Jenn,Waltonbasonman(Paul) Beachboy (Viv) Jonola(Jon) all attended ,a great turnout for Phil and a very nice service at the church, as i had wrote a note to be read out in church for Phil ,but not the type to get up in front of people, our good friend and detecting m8 Waltonbasonman (Paul) got up and read it in church also Paul added a few words to it himself , i would like to thank Paul for doing this for me and for Mark ,i know he will not what me to thank him as Paul thought a hell of a lot of ( Farmer Phil) Phil himself. Paul spoke very well in church and i was proud and Phil would have be proud of him as well. ........... a great send off for Farmer Phil i must say. R.I.P. PHIL.

Thanks for that Kev. Nice to know he went in style with friends around him.

Val

I think the eulogy from Paul (Waltonbasinman) with the assist from Kev (Casa) was a fitting tribute to Phil. I found it very touching whilst paying tribute to all the great qualities our friend Farmer Phil possessed. The turnout was exceptional which shows the esteem in which Phil was held. It was a very moving day and a very sad day. And Phil, it was a pleasure to have been around you. R.I.P my friend.

R.I.P Phil.

i agree with kev and jon the number of people that attended showed that he was very well liked and the speech from paul and kev was a great tribute, he was a true gentle man and it will be very hard to find another one like him R.I.P phil.VIV

these are some of Farmer Phil out detecting doing what he loved.

great photo's kev,some of them seems like it was yesterday.viv

Some magic moments Kev. I was sat there today while the Mrs car was being MOT,d and was thinking how I came to meet Phil. A long story to do with a church but it is a journey that has some wonderful moments. Sunday will be a fitting day doing what Phil liked best. CHATTING I mean Detecting.  ;D

you were right the first time Paul,he loved detecting but Phil loved chatting more for sure , it will be great sunday its a day for not just detecting but for that great guy PHIL JONES (FARMER PHIL) only wish he was there detecting & chatting.