Philip Lucic (21 Apr 1954 - 14 Oct 2016)

In loving memory of Philip Lucic a dear husband, father, son and brother who sadly passed away on 14th October 2016
Phil was the first born son of Joan and Ljubo Lucic. He spent his first four years in Stonebroom before the family moved to Alfreton. Phil was a typical lad, he enjoyed playing football all day and night if his mum allowed it, and was quite mischievous one day he hadn't learnt his spellings and his mum found him sitting on the front doorstep instead of being in school.
Phil attended the local primary schools and then went to Mortimer Wilson School where he achieved good O level and A level results allowing him to go onto Leeds University to study History. His thoughts at this time were to become a teacher. However, he found his true calling when he went into Leeds Police Station with shoulder length hair and asked for an application form to join the Police.
Phil was successful in his application and joined Derby County & Borough Constabulary and was posted to Glossop (a place he had never heard of) After passing his probation he transferred to Derby and worked Peartree area. He soon attended a driving course at Police Headquarters where he met his first wife Helen. Phil excelled at driving and became a traffic officer on Derby traffic a period of his police career that he really enjoyed. Phil and Helen married in 1980, Phil was promoted to Sergeant and returned to B division. Phil and Helen had a daughter Amy in 1983 and were divorced in 1985.
In 1986 a young probationer constable called Amanda was posted to Buxton and caught the eye of Sgt Lucic. Amanda kept Phil at arms length as it was frowned upon a probationer having a relationship with a Sgt. After the third time of asking Amanda succumbed and it was the start of a beautiful relationship that lasted 30 years. It wasn't however without problems, Amanda's supervisors wanted her to be transferred to Derby to put an end to the relationship but the Superintendent at the time allowed Amanda to remain. The relationship flourished.
Phil and Amanda married on 28th May 1988, and purchased their first home together at Chapel-en-le-frith.
Phil was transferred to New Mills and Amanda became the response car driver at Chapel-en-le-frith.
Phil was diagnosed flippantly with Diabetes in 1992, later that year it was confirmed Amanda was expecting twins and Phil was the first one to identify them on the 12 week scan. Phil became the Assistant Police Federation Secretary which meant a lot of time away from home. Alexander and Matthew were born on 1st May 1993 both of healthy weight. Phil didn't see much of his boys due to work commitments and travelling, the family decided to move to Swanwick in 1996. Phil became Federation Secretary and the move enabled Phil to see much more of his boys and be closer to the road network for his travel.
Phil was a doting father and enjoyed spending time with his family at home and on family holidays. Phil very often recalled the time when he started reading a book to the boys at bedtime and due to the boys listening to the same book on a tape recorder every night they joined in with him, and Phil let them carry on the story. Phil enjoyed taking his sons to Rugby and was so proud of them when they were part of a team that won the cup at a Rugby tournament knockout competition at Cromford Meadows.
In December 2002 Phil became ill with cellulitis in his right foot which resulted in the amputation of a couple of toes, this was the start of 14 years battling illness associated with diabetes.
Phil's last years in the Police were at Headquarters doing environmental scanning. Phil retired from Derbyshire Police in 2004.
Phil became interested in gardening and decided to prune Amanda's star Hebe's which were 10 years old to miniature plants. Amanda suggested perhaps an allotment would be a good idea and Phil rented half a plot at Leabrooks Allotments. Phil really enjoyed his allotment, it became one of his favourite places to be apart from supporting Alfreton Town Football Club and Nottingham Forest and of course being the doting father and husband to his family.
Phil was so proud of both of his boys, but he was beaming with pride when he attended the passing out parade of his youngest son Matthew at Catterick Garrison in August 2012.
It was a few days later Phil broke his right heal and spent 4 weeks in hospital due to infection of his bone. On discharge Phil was very immobile and in a wheelchair, but being strong willed and having the support of his family managed to walk again, albeit slowly and on two sticks. He became a celebrity in the medical world, his X-Rays are well known throughout America and China where his Professor used Phil as a Case Study. She even suggested he went on embarrassing bodies to inform people about the complications of diabetes. Fortunately for Phil the TV Programme wanted a female.
Phil managed to continue to tend his allotment and get to as many Alfreton Town Football matches as his health would allow.
Phil again beamed with pride when his eldest son Alex passed out as a PCSO with Nottinghamshire Police in 2014 and later as an Army reservist the following year.
Phil had always said to Amanda when he was at deaths door or going blind he would like a Bose. Amanda fulfilled his wishes on his 60th birthday and the family have a lovely video of Phil saying he must be at death's door to receive such a present.
In August 2014 Phil again broke his heal and spent 5 weeks in hospital due to contracting septicaemia. Phil again survived and came home with a pump attached to his foot and was immobile and in a wheelchair. Phil has always been a fighter and with the love of his family managed to somehow improve, although he never managed to go to his allotment with out Amanda as his health prevented him from driving.
In October 2015 Phil suffered a TIA and had been suffering with high blood pressure the majority of 2016.
On 12th July 2016 Phil had a catastrophic stroke which killed the right hand side of his brain and resulted in total immobility down his left hand side. Against all odds Phil battled through and although bed bound and hoisted Amanda had him home on 12th September 2016 as per his wishes.
After feeling unwell for a couple of days Phil was again admitted to hospital on the 9th October 2016 with an acute infection of his gall bladder and other complications.
Phil was just too tired to fight anymore and died in Amanda's arms at 19:04 on Friday 14th October 2016 with his loving family around him.