This newspaper has been flooded with memories of our former deputy editor and sports editor since he passed away peacefully at his home in France on Thursday, February 2 at the age of 81.
Oli played a major role in establishing the Watford & District Talking Newspaper and one of the service’s stalwarts has joined more former Hornets players, including Steve Sherwood and Ian Bolton, through the Former Players Club, in remembering a man whose contribution to the city extended beyond his coverage of events on Vicarage Road.
These are some of the latest tributes that have been paid to Oli:
Oli Phillips played a key role in helping us establish the Watford & District Talking Newspaper back in 1977. We are a charity that records and distributes the Watford Observer news for blind and partially sighted people.
I’ve worked at the Talking Newspaper since I was three months old, and week after week Oli recorded a report on Watford Football Club for us.
So I’ve known Oli’s voice, and I feel like I’ve known Oli himself, for all these years. He had a warm way of speaking and an inimitable style of his own, always clear and honest in good times and bad for Watford Football Club, and always with an evident love for him.
We had the special privilege of receiving his reports during the Graham Taylor and Elton John years.
We still remember Oli and talk about him fondly. He loved the written word and the spoken word, he loved journalism and he loved Watford.
He was unique and we will miss him.
Ian Pankhurst – Watford and the District Talking Newspaper
A class reporter and friend. RIP Oli and have a nice chat with GT.
Ian Bolton
Very sad to hear the sad news about Oli – he was a big part of our lives Watford FC.
dennis booth
RIP Oli. You will always be remembered.
walter lee
One of the old school, actually reported on the game!
He loved his passion for football, particularly Watford FC. We had our differences but we always respect his professionalism and enthusiasm. Rest in peace big guy.
Steve Harrison
The man is a very important part of our history, along with Terry Challis. Those two were really special. No doubt Oli will have an interesting meeting with Terry and the boss.
Steve Sherwood