Barbara Mary Savory

Barbara Mary Savory (known as “Pookie” by her brothers) was the third child of Dr Charles Harley Savory and Aileen Sutherland. She was born on 15th November 1920 in Norwood, London and went to school in the Home Counties.  She grew up at Chatham Dockyard where her father, Dr Charles Harley Savory, was the resident medic. The family lived next door to Admiral Danby and his family. When his wife died, Agnes Savory helped care for his three children. His daughter became Barbara’s  closest friend and one of the sons, Anthony, became godfather to her daughter, Carolyn. After school Barbara joined the WRNS where she stayed until she married Gordon Philips (who she met at a bus stop!) on 13th August 1942. He was at that time serving as an officer in the Royal Marines. After the war, he joined Shell Chemicals and remained with them until 1960. He then retired to the country having bought a general store and Post Office at Halesworth in Suffolk. This proving not as satisfactory a way of life as first envisaged, he returned to industry, joining Group 4 in 1962, eventually rising to the position of Joint Managing Director.

Barbara and Gordon Philips had four children:

Carolyn Mary (b.8 July 1943) who married Christopher Powdrill and they had two children. Rebecca (b. 21.12.68) who lives and works in America; she was bridesmaid at Sue’s wedding (her first cousin, once removed) in October 1978. Rebecca has a son William who lives in Melbourne, Australia. And Tom (b 8.6.71) who lives and works in London and has two children Arvan (b.2009) and Iris (b.2014). Carolyn and Christopher, divorced and Carolyn subsequently married Stuart Wallace and they live in Ipswich.

Nigel Gordon (b.26 October 1946) who emigrated to New Zealand where he married Karen Huntly. They had three children, Odette, Tony and Stephen; Odette died in 2020. Nigel and Karen divorced and he is now married to Dale.

Jonathan (Jonny) Hew (b.5 November 1948) who married Carol Bullock and had a son Robert who lives in Australia. Robert has two children Freya and Nick. Jonny and Carol divorced and Jonny married Frances, who died in 2023. In 2025, Jonny emigrated to Melbourne to live with his son.

They also had Sarah, who was born after Carolyn and before Nigel, she died at a few weeks old.

Barbara died on 11th September 2011.