Philip Plumb was buried on 6 October after a requiem mass in St Peter of Chichester Catholic Church, Buntingford, the church in which he had been baptised almost 81 years previously, and where he had worshipped almost all of his life. On that day, the local newspaper published a tribute to 'Mr Buntingford', describing his love for his home town and his many and varied contributions to the community. Philip would have been greatly pleased by this accolade, probably more so than by tributes to his professional activity and career.
'Mr Buntingford'
A former parish Chair, Chair for 25 years of the Town Football Club, and a trustee of the Buntingford Almshouse charity for more than 50 years, he was also a keen historian of the town who wrote many articles for the Buntingford Journal and used his knowledge of old illustrations of the town to inform lectures and slide presentations. He was much involved with the Heritage Group in both public and private capacities, but his interests were not confined to local history. Philip was associated with a number of campaigns – the reinstatement of local playing fields, the fight against the threat of the proposed third London airport at Nuthampstead, and the struggle to save the branch railway line from the 'Beeching cuts'. He also founded the local Scout troop and was involved in the Buntingford Dramatic Society, as both actor and producer.
Philip was active in the Hertfordshire Record Society, and compiled a book of historic photographs (Buntingford, Chalfont, 1969), and contributed research for The Cinemas of Hertfordshire by Allan Eyles and Keith Skone.
An acknowledged expert on the works of W.S.Gilbert, he had an extensive knowledge of Gilbert's solo writings as well as the Savoy operas written with Arthur Sullivan. In his Presidential year (1992) for the then Library Association, his speeches were liberally furnished with Gilbertian quotations. He wrote prolifically on the subject, particularly in the Journal of the W.S.Gilbert Society, of which he was Chair, contributing articles and reviews to almost every issue between 1985 and very recently. His name appears on the list of accredited advisers for Mike Leigh's award-winning film Topsy Turvy (1999). His passion was not restricted to professional performances, and he gladly travelled long distances to see amateur productions when invited.
Philip's career began in 1941 in Hertfordshire County Libraries on leaving Hertford Grammar School, but was interrupted by war service from 1944, during which he was commissioned into the Beds and Herts Regiment. His interest in Burma, stimulated by his appointment as commandant of an Army training centre in Rangoon at the age of 21, was fulfilled during his Presidential year when he was able to revisit Myanmar.
Resuming his career, Philip returned to Hertfordshire to be responsible for the local history and reference collection, and was later appointed Director of the South Eastern Regional Library Bureau. In 1955 he became Librarian of the Library Association, and then in 1963 was appointed to the teaching staff at the School of Librarianship, North Western Polytechnic. In 1971 he became the first Librarian of the newly-designated North East London Polytechnic, where he remained until his retirement.
Alongside these posts, Philip devoted a great deal of his time to two other organisations which were central to his life. He gave long and devoted service to the Library Association, serving on a number of committees and working groups, including the R & D Committee and Sub-committee for the Disabled, and acted as Chair of the LA Copyright Group, and its successor Laca. In these bodies especially, his skill as Chair was very evident. He presided over a group with disparate but complementary interests at a time when the LA, in alliance with other bodies, successfully exercised a responsible and influential role in the development of intellectual property law at national and European level.
His work did not end with his Presidential year in 1992, when he was able to use his position to revitalise links with the profession in Mynamar. He demonstrated during his Presidency his ability to question received wisdom, suggesting to Conference that it might be time to ask whether local authorities had the ability to run public libraries effectively, and whether responsibility for libraries in general was being exercised by the most appropriate department.
In later years Philip was active in the Historic Libraries Forum and contributed the keynote paper to the 2005 CILIP seminar 'Libraries in Danger', although sadly he was unable to present it in person.
On the bench
The other long-standing role was in the Hertford branch of the bench of magistrates. He liked to refer to his efforts to find sentences that were both redemptive and appropriate to the offence, in what seems to have been a truly Gilbertian spirit.
Among the many contributions from colleagues and associates that inform this appreciation of Philip’s life and work, there are repeated references to his great kindliness, unfailing courtesy, understanding, passion for research, breadth of knowledge and efficiency. 'A marvellously free and productive yet protective atmosphere in a workplace, punctuated occasionally by cries of "Drat!",' was one comment.
Colleagues from North East London Polytechnic pay tribute to his consummate skill in gradually co-ordinating into a single service the three college libraries, each with their original librarians in post. NELP was among the most problematic of the mergers that underpinned many of the polytechnic creations of the 1970s, retaining strong separate identities for longer than most. During this period the extent of his commitment to the bench and to the LA was well known, but it was never allowed to interfere with his responsibilities to the polytechnic or his colleagues, who were trusted, encouraged and empowered to deliver the service.
Philip's style of chairing meetings was inclusive, allowing all those present to express views, and encouraging the emergence of consensus, led by the Chair whose own views were not expressed until summing up. The length of the meetings was occasionally a problem, but no one felt that their view had been disregarded.
Philip was able to give people discreet but wise counsel in the face of personal difficulties or unhappiness. And his courtesy never failed even in the face of provocation. These qualities can be seen in his review of a book by David Eden, Gilbert and Sullivan:the conflict (Associated Universities Press, 1986) in which the author alleges that Gilbert had 'neurotic tendencies of infantile sado-masochism'. Philip refuted this in a forensic but fair manner, pointing out the author's complete reliance on secondary sources, lack of systematic referencing, and selective quotation, concluding that 'one could hope that Mr Eden had approached Gilbert as openly as he had treated Sullivan'. Precise, fair, but leaving no doubt as to his view of the wrong-headedness of the thesis.
Substantial contributions
Philip was able to combine substantial contributions to the profession, the bodies for which he worked, public service, his professional association, and his beloved home of Buntingford, acting at both local and national levels in a harmonious manner. The breadth of his interests attests to a lively and academic frame of mind. His personal qualities endeared him to those who had the good fortune to work with him or count themselves as a friend.
He is survived by his wife Dulcie, his five children and their families.
Denis Heathcote, with
contributions from Melvyn Barnes,
Jean Plaister, Ross Shimmon,
Keith Bonson, Beryl Morris,
Derek Marsh, Martin Guha
and Iris Pyves