Born in Oldham, Lancashire, England, and educated at Werneth Preparatory
School, Chadderton Grammar School, and Oldham College of Commerce, Philip's early working
years were in the retail clothing and outfitting trade until he moved with his parents to
live on the Isle of Man in 1965.
He joined the respected firm of advocates T W Cain & Sons and continued his
enthusiastic and successful amateur singing activities within the very vibrant musical scene
he had found on the Island. It was during this time that he met and married Manx soprano
Margaret Curphey. They set up the marital home in London and Philip embarked on the path of
seriously furthering his singing studies first under the direction of the renowned Royal
Opera House principal baritone Ottakar Kraus and subsequently with the enormously popular
teacher and fine New Zealand baritone Denis Dowling.