Newspaper Article 2003 – Clothing factory pioneer, 97, dies

Clothing factory pioneer, 97, dies

The man behind one of Napier’s long-established clothing factories is dead. Philip Whyl died recently in Princeton, New Jersey, aged 97.

English-born, Mr Whyl lived in Napier from 1931 for 65 years, before moving to Princeton to be near his daughter, Ruth, after his wife died.

A long-time friend, Charles Crawford, said Mr Whyl set up a factory making women’s coats and suits in Napier’s Shakespeare Road.

Two retail shops known as “Phillida” also opened in Napier and Hastings and continued for many decades.

Mr Whyl, a keen golfer and regular of the Maraenui course, was still playing the occasional round of golf at age 92.

He spent his last days partly wheelchair-bound, but as he so characteristically wrote in a letter to Mr Crawford: “My own desire is to be as little bother as possible.”

Mr Crawford said his mind was alert until he died.

The family of Mr Whyl has asked for any memorial contributions to be sent to the Napier Public Library.

Mr Whyl is survived by his daughter Ruth Miller and son-in-law Bernie, two grandsons and two great-grandchildren. One of his sisters, Betty, 94, lives in London.