Fond farewell for Phil (From Penarth Times)

Fond farewell for Phil

3:50pm Tuesday 7th July 2009

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AT the recent Penarth Cytun (Council of Churches) meeting, the official farewell was made to Philip Kingston who according to many is the "conscience of Penarth".

He has been the chairman of the Social Justice committee of Cytun and on its executive for many years.

Phil is a faithful member of St Joseph’s Catholic Church but has led a truly ecumenical group across the denominations on all matters of conscience.

Since retiring as a lecturer, he has used his gifts of intellect and clarity of reasoning to probe, question and enquire in most matters of political action and government decision-making in Westminster and around the world.

He, with a group of supporters, stood outside the library from Christmas to Easter 2003 making a silent protest every Saturday against starting a war in Iraq.

He has been a regular protesting against the arms trade in the annual service on Maundy Thursday outside the BAE Systems factory near Usk.

Phil would be there on most of the marches supporting Fairtrade and the cancelling of debt for the poorest countries of the world. which have been exploited by the governments and multi nationals of western democracies.

He would regularly inform the members of the Council of Churches of all the events, talks, seminars and gatherings which were concerned with matters of conscience and try to attend most of them.

He has decided that his family need him in Bristol, and when he is finally able to go, he will be sadly missed in Penarth.

Many will have stirring memories of being involved with one who though small in stature, has a big heart, and is truly a "man of conscience".

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