It is with a heavy heart that I have to write of the passing of Josephine Queenie Bourne’s adored dad Philip Hugh Bourne on August 31st 2025, aged 88. Husband, Dad, Uncle, Grandad, Great Granddad, loyal friend, inspiring colleague, Monday night quiz king, the bassiest of choir wonders and performers, New Orleans Trad Jazz and Blues lover, steam railway fanatic, obsessive map reader, passionate gardener, Mirror dingy captain, lover of loud shirts, even louder Hammer, quiet romantic and grower of the finest tomatoes, he was the most magnificent of men, forever proud of his darling, darling wife Lyn, his ever-growing family Josephine, Liz, Dan, Matthew, Katy, Andrew, Elfrida, James, Rebecca, Olivia, Imogen, Rodrigo, Maia (and Striker) and his beloved West Ham.

As a father -in-law he welcomed me into his tribe with open arms (alongside the occasional “whoooooo are ya??” Arsenal dig) and become an integral part of my family life – delivering the kind of stability I had longed for as a child. His eyes may have rolled at the outfits, opinions and adventures he witnessed Queenie and I bring to his door over the past 33 years of my life but he never said no, he never judged, he always supported – attending made up queer weddings, providing emergency back up when the bank wouldn’t and endless stories of his long and family filled life advice over a late night triple whiskey mac. Or “rhubarb, rhubarb, watercress”, if it was Xmas. He occasionally didn’t hear me (something about women’s voices) and the tut could be loud if we interrupted his viewing of his beloved cricket but he was a good man, a man who welcomed this divergent, queer, leftie Gooner to the heart of his family. If his children loved you then he loved you. That was that. Generous, loyal and one half of a glorious couple responsible for bringing me some of my favourite souls in the world, I shall miss him, brash hanging baskets and all. May you forever keep blowing those bubbles, pretty bubbles in the air. Fly high Dad. You did good.
The memorial service for the late Philip Bourne is at Mile Cross Methodist Church, Hellesdon, Norwich on Monday 29th September 2025 at 10:30 am. Family flowers only. Donations to Steeping Stones here.