My name is James, editor of the Caerleon Community Times Magazine.

If you have landed on this page, you will know about Phil’s premature passing. He was taken far too early!

You will also know of Phil’s passion for tennis and his commitment to the sport and its community. Some of you may have benefitted from Phil’s celebrated coaching style or his management ability over many years... and you will all know what an admirable, likeable and inspirational human being he was.

He was a positive man and likely believed that he had many years of coaching work ahead of him… many years to put the building blocks of life in place for his children and many years to prepare for old age. Sadly, he simply ran out of time to prepare for his and the family’s future.

What might not be quite so obvious is that passion and ability in the sport – indeed any sport - does not necessarily translate to wealth and a lavish life-style. Phil and his family… (wife Rebecca and their two children, Charley & Harriet) lived a decent – but modest life. Phil’s early ‘departure’ means that the family find themselves in a precarious position with a mortgage still in place and little or no means to pay it off… and facing the prospect of hardship… which seems unfair and unnecessary.

Rebecca would not seek assistance in such matters – like her late husband, she is a stalwart and resourceful character and she will find a way.

However, as a friend of the family, we at Caerleon Community Times are aware of the potential difficulty they face and have been moved to find ways to support Rebecca and the children.... Which is why we got involved

We have therefore set up a “Gofundme” page in Phil’s name and ask anyone in this huge nation-wide tennis community – plus friends who might have benefitted from Phil’s coaching, tuition, organisational or event management skills to join with us to help Rebecca, Charley & Harriet through the coming difficult weeks, months & years. If you would like to join us, please add your donation here.

Our aim is to raise sufficient funds to go some way towards paying-off the mortgage that Phil has left behind.

You may not be familiar with Caerleon Community Times, but you can check and confirm the authenticity of this fund-raiser by contacting Rebecca’s father, Mike Joenn or brother Andrew Joenn at AJ Garage Services in Caerleon – where Rebecca works as an Administrator.

This gofundme page has been approved by Rebecca's family.