Following on from the announcement made about, and celebration of, the current exhibition - Long Playing Record - Philip will be officially retiring from his role of Ruthin Craft Centre Director in late spring this year, after 33 1/3 years of service and contribution to the world of crafts and the applied arts.

His career's impact has been both all-encompassing and far-reaching, not only in terms of Ruthin Craft Centre and its exhibitions, but also with engagement/educational projects based at the Centre and in the wider community; craft maker retail opportunities including identifying and encouraging up-and-coming new talent; artist/maker residencies and diverse courtyard displays; touring opportunities and collaborations with numerous organisations within Wales, the UK nations and internationally; mentoring and support for many creative individuals within craft and the wider arts fields; and of course the thousands of conversations held with collectors and visitors to the galleries and Centre over the years.

On the eve of his well- earned retirement, many people have asked how they might thank him.

To this end we have set up a special website portal where we invite you to leave a comment, a fond memory, anecdote or story from over three decades of creativity, pay tribute or simply say thanks. Website Portal link

ALL submissions to the website will then be given to Philip on the occasion of his official retirement in the form of a simple Tribute document.

In addition, a short printed Tribute 'Book' will be produced and presented to Philip including an invited set of commissioned texts, alongside a selection of the portal tributes.

After all these years, Philip will now have his own RCC publication too!

The book will not be available to purchase, as only a very limited number of hard copy books will be printed, to ensure legacy copies are deposited in the various legal deposit libraries and appropriate archive collections.

However, once produced, the Tribute Book will be publicly available to view as a pdf on the main RCC website - in late spring. https://ruthincraftcentre.org.uk/

All those involved in this project have kindly donated their time and skills free of charge. We do, however, need to raise funds for the printing costs of the Tribute Book. We have set up this JustGiving crowdfunding page for this.

Any funds raised above the target set for the print costs will be given to Philip, along with his personal copy of the Tribute Book and the full Tribute document, as his retirement gift on behalf of us all.

Thank you for your time to read this and we hope that you feel, as we do, this is a suitable way to say ‘thank you’ to Philip for the legacy he has left us of an outstanding and unique career, which has always "celebrated craft and the art of making".

Jane Gerrard - Former Deputy Director, Ruthin Craft Centre

Mary La Trobe-Bateman OBE - Applied Arts Curator

Elizabeth Goring - Curator & writer

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