Special Recognition for a Special Councillor

Published: 07 April 2026

At the annual Parish Awards in March, Councillor Phillip Coote was given the Freedom of the Parish, in recognition of his decades of dedication to the local community. Councillor Trevor Hodson, MC of the event, gave the following speech in honour of Phillip:

Phillip is one of the most recognised people within Crawley Down, we all recognise his Panama hats, collection of walking sticks and cravats. A man of standards and traditions, Phillip has worked for so much of his adult life, in his free time, on behalf of his community, including having a Parish council notice board outside of his home. He has been a County Councillor, a District Councillor and a Parish Councillor serving for a number of terms on each. He saw military service and was involved in a number of actions during his time and continues to represent the importance of the armed services whenever he can. He never misses a remembrance event. As a young man Phillip worked in the jewellery trade, but only of course at the upper end of the market in Bond Street. He married Claude after finding her in Belgium and persuading her father he was a good 'un and together they made their home in our Parish and brought up their 2 children here. Phillip spent the latter part of his working life owning and running a concreting company, hence his detailed knowledge of potholes. These days Phillip concentrates on Parish Council representation, serving this Parish on both Planning and Highways and Human Resources committees. In both disciplines his colleagues benefit from his experience, often delivered in the form of a story to make his point. Phillip is very supportive of the council’s work and our staff, and is passionate about the parish as a whole.