#8499, John (Jack) McLean PHILP

Abridged Obituary - March 2008

The death has occurred of a former Royal Navy airman who became a member of the illustrious "Goldfish Club" after having to ditch his plane into the sea during World War II. More than 60 people filled Abernethy Church to celebrate the life of Jack Philp who was described as having a "lifetime's enthusiasm for flying".

Born in Leith, Edinburgh the former pupil of George Heriot's School, went on to Edinburgh University and the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Medicine. He was well advanced in his veterinary studies when he volunteered for service with the Fleet Air Arm in 1941. One risky part of his service involved him towing gliders behind his plane to be used as practice targets for anti-aircraft gunners on ships below. However it was not this perilous exercise that led to his membership of the "Goldfish Club". Whilst flying a pre-war Gloster Gladiator bi-plane in 1943 its Bristol engine lost power and the plane plunged into the sea 100 miles off Orkney. Protected by only his Mae West life jacket Jack was in the water for quite some time before being picked up by a Walrus rescue plane.

The following year he was sent to 804 Squadron on the aircraft carrier HMS Ameer destined for the Burma campaign where he carried out photographic reconnaissance and tasks including strafing Japanese airfields. Despite the legendary difficulty of landing the Seafire on a carrier flight deck Jack was a huge fan of the aircraft and regarded it as the best he flew in his 5 years of service.

After the war he returned to complete his veterinary degree and became a lecturer in pathology at the Dick Vet. Whilst there he was head-hunted by Unilever to join their research laboratory in Colworth, near Oxford. During his 28 years with the business he revolutionised its approach to public safety being responsible for the safety evaluation of the production and final use of a wide range of products from foodstuffs and packaging to toiletries and detergents.

He and his second wife, Mariatta retired to Nethy Bridge in Scotland where they threw themselves into Scottish country life. His friend John Kerr described him as one of a pioneering generation of research scientists; "a man of many talents".

Abridged by Anthony Cobbold in October 2019