Edward Taze Chetwin Phillips

In Edward’s own words a snippet from an autobiography he penned as a young man while he was working towards his Spitfire Flying Officer status in the R.C.A.F (Royal Canadian Air Force Association)… “I was evolved (don’t like the word born, sounds too naturalistic) on an island named Barbados, in the British West Indies. At the tender age of five my parents and I moved to British Guiana, where four years of going to school, and being whipped at frequent intervals had somewhat inured me to the hardships I suspected were in the orbit in which we move. Then came that memorable day I was informed we were leaving for New York. For the brief year I spent in school there my foremost recollection seems to be the wonderful roller-skating…”

His nod as a young boy to the joys of roller-skating won’t surprise those that knew him - as physical fitness and keeping active was an important value for him his entire life. When he retired, he traded his helicopter mode of enjoying the mountains for a different one - skis - and began his love of cross-country skiing - he was still enjoying the mountains into his late 80’s. This along with roller blading, skating, nature walks and bicycling made him a rarity amongst his elder community. In his latter years nothing could stop him from his daily walks and breakfasts at Cindy’s.

After NYC, Edward and his mother Evadne homesteaded on Lasqueti Island, B.C. beginning in the “dirty 30’s” where he was initiated in the art of commercial sea fishing as well as tending to the large parcel of land owned by his family. One of his big thrills during his fishing days was when he shot the Yuculta Rapids up the BC coast during a full tide-rip in a 32-foot trolling boat.

Eventually he entered the field of flying by enlisting with the R.C.A.F. where he earned his wings as Flying Officer E.T.C. Phillips on the spitfire. After the war he returned to British Columbia and became a helicopter pilot leading a successful and long career as a mountain-flying man in his whirlybirds (a rare feat in the risk prone world of heli flying). His expertise and honed technique working in air space or ‘deep water’ with ‘go devils’ (turbulence) was renowned and kept Ed in high demand throughout his flying career. Landing his bird on remote jagged mountain tops and in plunging valleys with his delicate control of ‘transitional lift’ (the fine balance point between lift and rapidly decreasing forward speed) were legendary.

Much of his flying was done in the northern hemisphere helping geologists through his own outfits ‘Transwest’ and ‘Highland Helicopters’ as well as stints with Okanagan Helicopters and various other organizations needing his expertise. He flew mainly in British Columbia, the Yukon, and Greenland as well as various European and South American locations. He was a highly regarded member of the flying community.

Besides his love of flying and physical activity, anything that rhymed stayed with Edward a long time and his offspring uttered many a groan from his unending limericks that they were subjected to over the years. His travels in nature inspired a knack for photography including capturing the wildflowers found in remote locations and classic ‘crew’ shots. His attention to detail was evident in his sartorial style – he always cut a handsome and well turned out figure.

He married Bernadette ‘Etta’ (passed away in 2007) with whom he raised two sons and a daughter while living in Vancouver, Terrace and White Rock, B.C. Eventually he moved to West Vancouver and enjoyed his many walks on the seawall and the company of his friends. R.I.P.

Edward will be laid to rest in Gardens of Gethsemani in South Surrey – date to be announced.

Please click on this private video link (password ‘Edward’) to see a selection of images from Edward’s life’

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MeM.com for the Phillips family.