Phil Gilchrist, Eastham

Phil Gilchrist is Wirral’s longest serving Councillor. He was first elected in 1977, serving through to 1990. He was re-elected for Eastham in 1992 and has served his community for over thirty years since then.  Together a total of 44 years.

He is easily recognised in high viz gear with ‘Phil’ in large letters on his back as he cycles around, able to stop and chat to residents who flag him down. Since 1975 he has been available in the local shops on Saturday mornings for a chat.

In recent years Phil has served on the Council’s committee that oversees ‘care’  and ‘public health’. He has spent this time here seeking high standards in the care homes that the Council purchases places in throughout Wirral, pressing for more facilities on the lines of Mendell Court in Bromborough, and working to get domiciliary care workers the status and pay they deserve for all that they do.  With his colleagues in Eastham he worked for the building of local health ‘out of hours’ facilities in Eastham Rake and fought to retain the ‘Walk in’ centre when its future was in doubt.

As Leader of the Group Phil has been determined that the Council has to ‘get the basics right’ even during this period of financial problems. He is clear that the Tory Government’s policies should be challenged. The fabric of society, the bonds that create a caring community cannot be undermined or destroyed.       It is the idea of public ‘service’ that has always motivated him.

It was his concern for the damage that Bebington Council’s tip brought to the valley at Spital that led him to attack that municipal vandalism. Phil stood as a candidate in the very first elections for Wirral Council back in 1973, 50 years ago. He was a Merseyside County Councillor from 1977 to 1986 during which time he worked for the electrification of the Rock Ferry-Chester railway line and     for the building of Eastham Rake station.

Phil continues to work as a gardener juggling this satisfying work with his family commitments and still makes time to go for a swim once a week.