Richard and Veronica Phillips

Warwickians Richard and Veronica Phillips have a long association with the Foundation, not least of all as parents of King’s High Old Girls Katie and Lucy who were pupils in Mrs Anderson’s time. Veronica was a long standing Foundation Governor and Chair of the Warwick Prep School Committee. She had particular interests in Policy and Strategy, Education, Governance, Estates and Procurement, and Bursary and Investment. Former Warwick School master Richard is ‘Mr Music’ for the Warwick area. He was awarded the MBE in 2016 for his services to Music and the Arts, and is Director of the Leamington Music Festival, in addition to being instrumental (no pun intended) in the organisation of music festivals throughout the Midlands.  He also founded the Warwick Words festival in 2002, and is an Honorary Fellow of the Birmingham Conservatoire.

'We are delighted to be made Fellows of the Landor Association as our daughters benefited greatly from their time at both Warwick Prep and King's High.'

Veronica continues 'As Chairman of the Warwick Prep School Committee for nearly fourteen years, I very much enjoyed working with three Heads and seeing positive developments in many fields, including several building projects, but my principal interest was in securing a good education for all the children.'

Richard adds 'As Festival Director I put on a number of concerts in King's High and brought various educational workshops into both schools.'

'My Association with King’s High began not as an old girl but as a parent, when my daughter moved up the road from the Prep at 11 years old.  Somehow I got reeled in to the Parent Staff Association not long before a sizeable number of members, who had already done a long stint, left and I was persuaded to become Secretary.  Three years later I became the Parent Governor, and three years after that, Chair of the King’s High Governors, a role I continued to fulfil for the next 15 years. 

The progression from parent to Chair of Governors was totally unplanned and unexpected but has developed within me a huge respect for the exciting and transformative effect that an excellent education can have on young people’s lives.  It has been a privilege to see from the inside the professionalism, the skill, the very regular flashes of inspiration, the hard work and the challenges that go in to making a great school.

More recently, having loved the higgledy piggledy site in Smith Street and all that was signified by the iconic blue door, and having spent a deal of energy overseeing the design and build of a new Sixth Form Centre, St Nicholas Arts Centre and Dining Room, I was closely involved as Foundation Governors and Heads took the momentous decision that it was in the best interests of the school community, both pupils, staff and the wider Foundation, for King’s to move down to the Myton Road site.  So followed the chairing of the committee to choose the architects, and the numerous initial discussions on how the design of the new school could best serve the aim of being both an inspirational and a practical setting for girls and staff to work and play in every day.  Perhaps it’s not surprising then that when I finally passed on the baton and left the completion of the work in Richard Nicholson’s extremely capable hands, that a part of me will always  feel bound up with the continued success of the flourishing school that is King’s High.  Being a Fellow of the Landor Association underscores that bond and I will enjoy continuing to watch an exceptional school flourish.' 

‘After such a long association with The Prep and the Foundation I was delighted to become a member of The Landor Association Committee and to be invited to become a Landor Association Fellow, which has enabled me to still keep strong links across the Prep and King’s High.’

‘The Landor Association is of great importance to me because it enables me to keep in contact with colleagues, students and their parents, from -  in my case - the last forty years or so and I really value these ties which constitute a richness in my life.  In addition, there is the continuing intellectual stimulus from the lectures which the Association organises and the interaction with visiting speakers, a special pleasure when they are Old Girls; concerts and services in St.Mary's are part of this richness too.

‘Being part of the Landor Association family is like having cherished relatives whose presence at a family gathering makes the occasion special with shared memories, shared experiences and always, humour. It keeps us in touch with Kings in the present too.

‘As a Fellow, I hope I can contribute to and support this special Association.’

'We were surprised and pleased to be asked to become Fellows and it’s certainly a good way to ensure that we remain involved for many years to come!'

'I am touched and honoured to be asked to be a founding fellow of the Landor Association. I feel a strong connection with King's High School, both through my family, and through the work we do at Kissing it Better. I'm excited to see how the Association develops the important links between the school and the community.'

‘I feel very honoured and proud to be a Landor Association Fellow and would like to thank the Association for nominating me. Having been involved with a variety of aspects of school life over the years I hope to continue to make a contribution to the school community in this role in the future.’