SpoonVolunteers
average of nearly one new has paid dividends. “I’ve brought If that is his serious side, Philip Muir Trail in the Californian
PHILIP
project a week.” As Philip sees just over 200 successful projects also knows where and how to Sierra Nevada, covering a
GEOFF MORRIS
the projects through from to Council with a value of have his quota of enjoyment. distance of 230 miles. “We were
ON PHILIP
conception to formal opening, it £6,600,000. Very few others “I’ve always liked mountain a long way from civilisation – it BLUNDEN
means he oversees more than were rejected – I like to think walking – the Western Highlands was absolutely beautiful.” He
70 in some stage of that I have brought a degree of of Scotland and the Lake District has also trekked in the Rockies “Philip has given of his time
BLUNDEN
development at any one time, organisation to the job and are favourite places.” Yet, like and in Nepal. “I went on a trip to Spoon, both as a trustee
with others in the pipeline. All generally put forward a good the day job, Philip doesn’t just to the north and south base- and as our project
on a voluntary basis. case where the project is a good do it; he does it with bells on. In camps of Kachenjunga.” Which coordinator, the latter role
one.” 1990, he and a friend spent 20 – at over 28,000 feet - is the being one he took over
And it isn’t simply a question of days backpacking on the John third highest mountain in the from Paddy Smith. It’s no
PROJECT COORDINATOR
juggling the various projects. indictment of Paddy to say
Philip reckons he drives around that Philip has
8,000 miles a year and does half revolutionised the way in
that distance again by train and which we capture data
air. In addition, there is a huge about our projects, initially,
ANDY COX SPEAKS TO PHILIP BLUNDEN ON THE EVE OF HIS RETIREMENT amount of administration – by computerising the
AS SPOON PROJECT COORDINATOR AND GETS A GLIMPSE OF THE MAN somewhere between 3,000- manual records that existed.
THROUGH THE EYES OF OTHERS. 4,000 emails plus other In Paddy’s time, we were
correspondence, telephone calls doing perhaps 10 projects a
and record-keeping - all without year, nowadays it’s
a secretary! But the commitment something in the order of
50-60. And those are the
take a well-earned, second required an audit and Peter ones that actually come to
retirement. asked my firm (now PwC) to
So what do we know of the do it.”
TONY RICHARDS
council – Philip also has to
deal with the ones that are
man? If you have been a
ON PHILIP
filtered out before getting
regional chairman, or in any way He remained the partner in BLUNDEN that far. It wouldn’t surprise
involved with the development charge of the annual audit for me if he has a portfolio of
of a project in the past seven the next 12 years, during which 100 projects in hand at any
years, it is inconceivable that you time Spoon grew dramatically, “Although I have worked one time.
have not met or talked to him. becoming increasingly with Philip in my capacity The level of contact that
Roger Cooke was Spoon’s sophisticated and organised. “I as the man who looks after Philip has with the regions
treasurer until the end of 2006. became very close to the people ‘the regions’ for the past running the respective
“Philip is a pleasure to deal with. involved and enthused by the six years, it was last year projects goes well beyond
He’s a really nice guy but, at the work Spoon did. I loved the fact when I really got to know the call of duty and he does
same time, is always on the ball. that there was an emphasis on him on the occasion of my it all without a fuss. He is
He has done a terrific job.” having fun while never losing 60th birthday. hard-working, understated
Wooden Spoon prides itself on sight of the serious side. It made I decided to walk from St and just gets on the job. I
putting the fun into fundraising.
“I’m not really sure I
me think that when I retired, I Bee’s head to Paterdale suspect when he started, he
And yet there is a serious side to
should have done the
might be able to give something and Philip was one of the anticipated the job might
the golf days, the dinners, the
job at all,” Philip
back.” twelve who made the trip. take up a day a week, now
hill climbs and the whole range
demurs, his natural
He was a great pleasure to it’s probably four days a
of adventures that are run: put Retirement – first time around – be with for a number of week with a huge amount
simply, Spoon exists to improve
modesty coming to the
occurred in 1999 and, after a reasons. He had a deep of travel thrown in, and all
the lives of disadvantaged
fore. “I don’t play rugby,
short break to recharge knowledge of the lakes on a voluntary basis.
children. As we all know, the
still don’t really
batteries, in 2001 he started and every peak that fell From the viewpoint of the
monies that are generated,
understood it and I can’t
working in parallel with the before our view and, trustees, they know that if
whether it be in the regions or
play golf.” Which says a
incumbent project coordinator, perhaps more to the point, Philip has run his rule over a
at national events, are used to
lot for the other qualities
Paddy Smith. At the meeting in he could be trusted with a project, all the i’s will have
funds projects that benefit those he has brought to the which Paddy stepped down in map. been dotted and all the t’s
we have made it our goal to
task.
June 2002, Philip was appointed One of the further crossed. Philip is also a
help. as a trustee and took on the delights of his company is great advocate for the
The projects are the projects responsibility. our shared interest in red projects themselves and his
touchstone by which Spoon’s His involvement with Spoon wine. I recall many a night efforts have made him a lot
performance in meeting its stretches way back to 1984 “When I started, there were sat on a bar stool chewing of friends in the regions. If
stated aim can be judged. If the when he worked as an about 26 regions – some of the cud over a fine glass or he has to deliver bad news,
projects that are funded don’t accountant. Peter Scott – one of which were more active than two. Indeed, it was his because it comes from him,
help disadvantaged children and the founders – was a client. others – and a similar number of wife, Maureen, who it is accepted. Personally, he
youth, Spoon fails in its mission. “The charity was going through projects in hand. I indicated to observed that his pride has been incredibly helpful
It all contrives to make the role the usual pangs of David Roberts (former Chief and joy in their new house to me. He has always been
of Project Coordinator one of development,” Philip recalls. Executive) that I would work 3-4 was the cellar. She did also available to talk through a
very real importance. In early “Originally, Spoon had been set days/month.” It’s fair to say that comment that trying to problem and his view has
2008, Philip Blunden, the up as an unincorporated charity the role has grown rather. “I stock it was rather like always added value to the
individual who has filled the role but it was decided to change now work about 3-4 days/week trying to fill a bath with matter under discussion. He
for what will be seven years, the structure to a company and for the last two years or so, the plug out!” will be sorely missed.”
steps down from the position to limited by guarantee. That the council has approved an
32 Spoonews Summer 2007 Spoonews Summer 2007 33
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44