William Garside Phillips

William Garside Phillips JP (13 April 1849 - 1 January 1929) was a pioneer in mining education, the managing director of Ansley Hall Colliery and chair of the Atherstone Rural District Association from 1907 to 1929. He was called The Field Marshal of Warwickshire Coalfield.

Family and personal life William Garside Phillips was born in Hyde, Manchester to John Phillips and Eliza Wilde, into “a nest of colliers”. In March 1931, the Phillips family made a donation to St Lawrence Church, Ansley, consisting of a new West Window, designed by Karl Parsons, an oak screen, choir stalls and electric lighting, all dedicated to Phillips’ memory. At the dedication service the Bishop of Coventry delivered the address.

Mining Phillips began working at Hyde and Haughton Collieries at the age of nine. He was described as the “Field-Marshal of the Warwickshire coalfield”. Warwickshire School of Mining, founder Chesterfield and Midland Institute of Mining Engineers, president Warwickshire Mining Students’ Association, president In 1906 he became Justice of the peace for Warwickshire, taking his seat on the Atherstone bench. Other roles included:

Nuneaton Conservative Party, chair Ansley Parish Council, chair Atherstone Board of Guardians, chair Board of guardians Vaccination Committee, chair Atherstone Rural District Council, chair (1907–1929) Nuneaton Town Cricket Club, president Charity of St John Twycross and John Perkins, trustee