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Monthly ‘newsletter’: Thoughts from a Devonshire Farmhouse

https://thoughtsfromadevonshirefarmhouse.blogspot.com/

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August 21st
I was a guest on Alison Morton's blog

(Isn't that a lovely smile!)

Goodbye to the old, and new beginnings

It is with a sad, heavy heart that I have had to re-create a new website/blog as my oldest, and dearest friend, Mal, passed away from a heart attack towards the end of July. Apart from coming to terms with the shock and grief from the news, his passing left me in a quandary regarding my ten-year old website which Mal managed as 'Webmaster'.

Having no idea how to continue with a site using HTML and not wanting to find a stranger to replace Mal, I decided a simple Blog -- which I know how to use and operate - would be the best option. So here we are!

With the skilled help of my graphics and cover designer, we will auto-divert the original www.helenhollick.net site to this one - and leave that original as a memorial to Mal.

I've transferred quite a few of the information and articles from the original over to here - you'll find a the information about my books, including buy links and excerpts, plus lots more of interest linked on the 'More'  page (or see the top menu bar).

News and Events will be posted as and when I have any news to share, and I will continue with my monthly Dispatches - I've copied and archived all of them from the original website onto here - took me a while as I started writing these, at Mal's suggestion, in April 2005.

So please do browse, let me know if you spot any errors (there are bound to be some) and feel free to suggest anything that you think I can add.

I will miss Mal very much, we used to chat on the phone most weeks, and it was always good to know that he was there at the end of a phone line.

R.I.P. Mal

Mal (Mallory) Phillips

March 8th 1952 - 20th/21st July 2025

Mal (Mallory) & Helen 2014

Mal (Mallory L. Phillips 8th March 1952-July 2025) passed away some time between July 20^th-21^st. He was a bachelor and a very dear friend for over 47 years. He was recently with us here in Devon for my daughter Kathy’s wedding, so we have good memories of him enjoying himself, laughing and smiling, a pint of Devonshire cider in his hand. He stayed with us for the week, enjoying lunch under our gazebo in the front garden, helping to keep an eye on the horses, playing with the three dogs, and indulging in superb dinners with us up at our village pub.

Mal (left) with my husband Ron
May 10th 2025

There was not a funeral, but a Direct Cremation, with his friends able to remember him in our own way. We intend to plant some rose bushes in his memory here in our front garden.

Super Trouper
(because that's what Mal was)

Scent from Heaven

This is what Kathy and I want to say ‘in memoriam’:

Dearest Mal,

You meant such a lot to both of us for over 40 years, always there to support, assist, advise, trust, laugh and, more important, love.

I expect that there are few people, now, who recall from those early days that you preferred to be known as 'Mull'. I'm not sure when it morphed to 'Mal'? Maybe when you retired from being a Marconi ‘Sparks’ Radio Operator aboard those enormous oil tankers - remember the Ben Ocean Lancer? I used to keep you supplied with books to read, packaging them up and sending them off. One of the books was Swallows and Amazons. I had a follow-up request: ‘Please send rest of series asap.’ Another was The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe. That time I sent the entire series – oh and you enjoyed The Dark Is Rising series by Susan Cooper. I sent some sci-fi as well. The only one I remember is The Mote In God’s Eye.

You were so impressed by Swallows and Amazons that you sent a telegram for my wedding to Ron in May 1981 (you were still at sea). Quoting from it: ‘Better drowned than duffers, if not duffers won’t drown.’ We shared that quote quite often for different applications, didn’t we? (One I recall, was when you weren't sure about doing your Dressage Judge Training. I quoted it and you went ahead with confidence.)

There are so many memories to treasure: the children's birthday parties (remember the water pistols?), the hacks out together in Epping Forest and down here in Devon; the laughter during Christmas dinners; enjoying Mike Oldfield together at the Royal Albert Hall, and earlier than that, seeing Elton John in a small London theatre before he became famous. Mike Oldfield was our especial favourite from that very first release of Tubular Bells in 1973. I think you had every edition of his albums? With this line: ‘Hey and away we go, ‘cross the grass, ‘cross the snow, big brown beastie, big brown face, I’d rather be with you than fly through space.’ Especially meaningful because your horse, JR, was indeed a ‘big brown beastie’. We sang that line together (badly, as I recall) during a long weekend camping in Herefordshire and Wales when we walked along the footpath atop Hergest Ridge – the name of the album that track is from.

Between us we've known many horses over the years who are no longer with us: among the many, our own Charlie, Rosie, Ginger, Saffie and Franc. Your Donna, with your special love, her son JR. I was there when he was born, and was still there, holding your hand, as we sat and cried together when he died.

And then came Beau, not an easy horse to handle, but you developed love and respect for each other. I hope you meet them again in sunny green pastures. Give them a pat from us.

Another memory that will probably only mean something to you, Mal, but I've never forgotten, is your Ham Radio days back in the 1970s. 'C Q, C Q'. And your call sign:  'G4 GTZ.  Golf Tango Zulu.'

We ‘met’ some interesting people through that didn’t we?

You were always there for us at the drop of a hat when we needed help - human or horse related, as we were there for you.

Thank you for everything. Thank you for being much, much more than just a friend, I thought of you as a beloved older brother, and thank you for taking your role as an ‘Uncle’ and Godfather to Kathy earnestly, sincerely and generously.

Your Goddaughter and I thought the world of you, and we are so glad that we have the happy memory of you laughing and smiling at her May 2025 wedding down here in Devon.

It was an honour and great privilege to have shared all those years of your life.

Until we meet again,  Lege feliciter .... the ‘sign off’ phrase you suggested I use for my monthly newsletter dispatches on my website and for my emails. ‘Read happily’ will continue to be used.

Your dearest, closest and most especial friend, Helen, and your ever-loving Goddaughter, Kathy. We miss you.

Mal and me at a 2014 event

(adapted from Mal's Facebook Header)

R.I.P Mal