Edward (Eddie) Philpott-Kent (25 Nov 1932 - 19 Jun 2023)

For the last two years of his life Eddie was confined to his bed, in a nursing home in Norwich. Even with his world restricted to just one room, he managed to maintain his typical non- conforming approach to the regimes around him. A supply of whisky, red wine, Stilton and Patum Paperium Gentleman’s relish was commissioned, and the kitchen staff were advised of his dislikes. He never let himself be institutionalised.
But that was the way he was. He was a child of the War – permanently affected by the bombings, the restrictions and by his fathers senseless and accidental death (killed whilst on military parade by a motorcycle). As a Shepherds Bush lad, he was then taken out of his working class community and “educated” to the highest level. Dropping out, from thereon, he was the classic misfit in a fast changing society. He inhabited the “beatnik” world of Soho in the 50’s and 60’s, jobbing in restaurant kitchens, hobnobbing with the arty set and hanging out at the French House wearing leather trousers.
In that arty set was Pamela, his second love (the first, Heather, emigrated to Canada and Eddie would say in disdain – married a dentist). Pamela and Eddie went on to have Min and adopt Jonah. They escaped London for the Isle of Wight, living in a crumbling old cottage. Eddie scraped a living working for the railway, and even took charge of shunting trains – or so he said (that story was embellished depending on the listener). He tried to write, and did write some fiction. Finally they settled in Farnham, Surrey in a little bungalow on the rural edges of that county town, where they definitely did not conform to the suburb norms. Pamela gave birth to Ella, but tragically died soon after, leaving Eddie to choose the (controversial at that time) route of single parenthood. He once again stood out from the norm for men at that time. He was supported by Emily, his mother and by his brother Brian, both of whom would regularly visit the humble household struggling on benefits.

Mid-life, he turned his mind to studying and graduated with a degree in Mathematics at the open university. In those days the lectures were broadcast over the TV in the small hours of the night, and he developed a permanent sleeping problem. The forming of the M500 group of students took Eddie into another world where he found the stimulation that his kind of intelligence really needed. This student lead initiative overtook the Open University for excellence in teaching through lectures and symposiums. It attracted the top mathematicians of the day, who taught at the summer and winter schools for free. He especially enjoyed hosting the guest lecturers at the many M500 conferences – this usually, of course, involved a good meal. He was a member of M500 right up to his death.

He also met Jacky (that’s me) and along came Tabby and Ozi. The family moved back to London (this time the East End) and that brought Eddie a new career as a rag-and-bone man and odd job builder.
However, he finally found his real métier in editing mathematics papers for Oxford University Press, for which he was paid a reasonable sum. At that time it was all done on hard copy. Eddie was surrounded by sheets of deepest mathematical equations, which he would meticulously edit in red pen. A true art!

Life in Norfolk suddenly threw this manifestly urban man into the countryside. He was no good at killing chickens but he displayed a true talent for boules at the Friday evening works social club in Long Stratton, although it needed half a bottle of red wine to warm him up.

Eddie was never a man to pass up a good meal (it had to be meat) or a drink and he loved music, jazz, opera, and all things classical. He wasn’t very good at washing up, but could make a soup out of anything – and did regularly. Sadness always shadowed him – firstly with the loss of Pamela, then his adopted son, Jonah and still born Matilda. It’s probably a miracle that he lived to 90, as he ignored most good advice for the whole of his life.

Eddie is survived by Min, Ella, Tabby, Ozi, Rowan (Min’s son) and Jai (Jonah’s son) and me (Jacky).