Phil Taylor, a stalwart of Half Man Half Biscuit discussion online, including being a regular contributor to this site, has passed away.
Phil Taylor, a stalwart of Half Man Half Biscuit discussion online, including being a regular contributor to this site, has passed away.
dr desperate
Desperately sad news. Philip (‘Taylo’) Taylor’s Missus has posted this Announcement on Facebook today:
“It is with immense sadness that I am making this post to announce the death of Philip George Taylor on 3rd December 2022. He was a beloved husband to me, incredible father to Hayley, Jimmy and Sunshine, adored Son of Pat, the absolute best of brothers to Shay, Clare, Marie and families and dearly loved friend of so many people.
“Most of you know that Philip has had some very troubling issues with his health over the recent years. At the moment we don’t know which of these difficulties has been the cause of his passing and are in complete shock. Arrangements for funeral will follow when we have them.
“We are all so deeply heartbroken that we have lost such an important man in our lives. We as a family thank you all for your loving and kind messages, thoughts and prayers already said and for those to come.
“All the love in the world can’t compare to how much love you had for your family and how much each of us loved you Philip. Lost without you. Finally rest in peace with no more clusters, no more pain, no more suffering. I love you my Wonderful Man!”
Indeed, rest in peace.
5 December 2022
EXXO
Devastated here. From about 1998-2006 all there was for HMHB fans on the internet was the Yahoo group, of which Phil ‘Taylo’ Taylor was the life and soul of the group, the catalyst. Happy memories of pre-gig meets and post gig conflabutions at which Taylo would reveal that it was he who had originally told Mr. Blackwell whatever ‘joke’ the bard had passed on to us that evening.
A proper, lovely gentleman. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.
5 December 2022
Ferencváros fan
Never met Taylo, but felt that I knew him well after recently reading his book. What really emerged from the pages, besides his love of football and United, was his sheer goodness, plus the great love that he had for his family and close friends. My thoughts are with these people now. RIP.
5 December 2022
Chris The Siteowner
Taylo’s message from a few weeks ago mentioning his book about United. There’s plenty more discussion in that thread about the book, including contributions from the man himself, and here’s Taylo’s self-deprecating last comment on the site: “I prided myself on making no factual errors and I get a Biscuit fact wrong. I have failed you all!”.
You never did.
5 December 2022
Hendrix-tattoo
Oh! Fuckin’ Jesus Christ, Man.
What a fuckin’ orrible few weeks I’ve had. Why can’t there be any good news for a change.
🙏🏻R.I.P Phil🙏🏻
5 December 2022
Parsfan
Oh FFS! That’s awful, so sorry to hear that.
I remember starting off on a bit of a solo pub crawl round Liverpool some years ago. Second pub in, very quiet, and having noted the t-shirt, some guy came over and invited me to join him and his mate (Nick?). That was Phil and it turned out we sort of knew each other from the Yahoo group. A few pints and pubs later we met a load of others in the pub near the venue.
I can’t remember who was all there but Spaceman Dave, Kitty and, of course, Loop, the future Fifth Biscuit. I could be wrong, but I think that was the night they met.
RIP Phil
5 December 2022
Kittymcdermott
Just so shocked and so sad to hear this. He was such a genuinely warm and lovely bloke. And very funny. Remember laughing a lot in his company. What a terrible loss. My condolences to Loop and all the family.
5 December 2022
transit full of keith
I never met him but was aware of him, from his comments on here, and Twitter, he just seemed a really warm & funny bloke. And far too young for this. Deepest condolences to those who knew him.
6 December 2022
dr desperate
This looks genuine.
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/danbarrie-rainsfordreilly?fbclid=IwAR1EMpOZYf4oTG1gHrRYAVMDA4SGX9hundcH7I2XmAHq1e0VHPlu95ktFGo
6 December 2022
Zoe Poey Walsh
My best friend for many many years, i wasn’t a huge fan im a funky house and old skool dj but i will be holding a tribute to Phillip very soon… HMHB is of course a definite on the playlist x
7 December 2022
EXXO
A random memory suddenly emerged just now of NB ‘celebrity spotting’ at a gig, pointing into the audience and saying something like “Phil Taylor, Hewden Plant Hire, everyone.”
7 December 2022
Hendrix-tattoo
£5,775 so far collected on the crowdfunding page…
8 December 2022
Careen janitor
RIP Phil
Top guy
10 December 2022
TwistedKiteMike
May you Rest in Peace, Taylo.
The glue in the Biscuit threads for many years. The standing call for “Mr. Blue Sky” is just one of many, many, fond memories.
Do share your stories and tales of times with Phillip. Loop and the family would love to read/hear them all.
With affection from one of the Taylo-titled “Three Amigos of the early Noughties”. Never a dull moment during and after a 300-400 mile round trip to spend time with Phillip.
Mike……………..
12 December 2022
Moo369
Now he’s gone, I can finally admit that for years on the Yahoo Group, I thought he was a Manchester City fan because of his Mr Blue Sky moniker. Knowing fuck-all about football, the assumption was based purely on me knowing that they wore blue. Sorry about that, Phil…
A huge loss to all who knew him. RIP xxx
12 December 2022
Not bishop brennan
Taylo’s book was hugely enjoyable and duly recommended to a very good friend who is as die hard a ManU fan as Taylo and appreciated reminiscences of that era as well as the Biscuit comments. Consequently the news was a huge shock and very sad and both send our heartfelt condolences to Loop and family. Glad to support the JG site too. Coincidentally when we were discussing Taylo’s sad departure my mate informed there was a new quiz team at their local pub entitling themselves AIWFCIADPAK – I suggest a minute’s applause before the next quiz as Taylo definitely made a great contribution and will be much missed.
12 December 2022
ASK ME TO PRESTATYN
Long time lurker and even longer term Biscuit goer. Shocked at this, but wanted to pay a Tribute to Phil. Hewden Plant Hire indeed. Yahoo Group memories.
Gone too soon. In the same bracket as Bez Barnsley – will be missed mate x
14 December 2022
dr desperate
Message from Loop on FB:
“Dearest family and friends,
I would like to sincerely thanks everyone for the lovely and touching kind words, support and extremely generous gifts and donations. Myself, our children and all of Philip’s family are so grateful for this as it has allowed me to organise a funeral worthy of Philip’s love, friendship, kindness, humour, generosity, compassion and the many other gifts he shared with his whole heart.
The funeral arrangements are:
11:00 am, 5th January 2023 at
St Thomas More Catholic Church,
102 Mainway, Alkrington, Middleton M24 1PP.
This will be followed by a committal at
11:50 am at Middleton Crematorium, Boarshaw Road, Middleton M24 2PN.
As space is very limited, we ask that this be only family and close friends in attendance at the crematorium itself.
The Wake will follow the committal at
The Olde Boars Head, 111 Long Street, Middleton M24 6UE.
NB. If parking in the pub car park, use the tablet on the Bar in the pub to verify your parking rather than purchasing a ticket from the machine to park without charge.
As Philip was a Manchester United fan to the very core, your are invited to join the family in wearing your team’s tie and a splash of red in celebration of Philip’s life and loves.
Lots of love,
Loop❤️”
17 December 2022
EXXO
I don’t think I’ll be wearing my team’s tie, cheers Loop.
Reminds me of the last football conversation I had with Taylo, at the April 2014 Holmfirth gig I’ve just worked out it was. Genial to the core, he told me he would prefer Liverpool to win that title race than City, and said he genuinely hoped we did. Realistic to the core, I refused to accept that he really meant it.
17 December 2022
Lee Gillingham
A bit late in posting,but very sad news ,I was only talking to him about movies we both liked a while back .
RIP Mr Taylor.
Always had a good come back or joke .
28 December 2022
parsfan
Something’s just occurred to me. I’ve just re-read the comments above and don’t think anyone’s mentioned it.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’ve always credited Phil with coming up with “PBR” and I’m sure “NB57” was his as well.
30 December 2022
EXXO
Yes, both true. I guess the NB57 thing has been mentioned so many times on here that nobody’s mentioned it in this thread yet. My abbreviated handle – Exxo – was also a coinage of Phil’s.
‘Biscuiteer’ was Loop’s, though no reason why it can’t exist alongside the more exotic Biscuitista.
30 December 2022
Wobs
For PBRs, it might have been Taylo who came up with it (or Mike or Lisa).
I shall be wearing a PBR tomorrow (colour appropriate).
Lots of love to Loop.
4 January 2023
Wobs
Never forget the time we were at a Manchester gig stood next to Phil. Nigel was starting a song that had a pause (might have been LATEOTT), and as the pause was slightly longer than normal, Phil shouted “1, 2, 3, 4!” (Ramones style), and Nigel lost it.
4 January 2023
EXXO
Can’t make it today unfortunately, rail strike being the main reason. Just remembered I put a bit of a ‘poem’ called ‘When Taylo met Loop’ on the old Yahoo Group, and that somehow it ended up being featured at their wedding. Was it mainly a collage of classic HMHB lines, set in the ‘Spoons in Sheffield? Before Yahoo Groups finally folded a few years back, I looked back to see if there was any way of accessing some stuff from that old group, but it seemed there wasn’t. Even the interweb is ephemeral.
Since I read Loop’s info above, I’ve had a few chuckles QTM* (as I’m sure Phil himself would have) about the idea of walking into a Middleton boozer full of Red Issue chaps this afternoon in my club’s tie. Then I came across a Dukla Prague tie Mrs. Exford bought me many years ago and have never had a chance to wear. Yes, I thought – that’s the one for today. It’s still hanging up in the kitchen here, even though I have been unable to find a way to get there today. Perhaps I should wear it anyway and raise a glass to Phil at lunch time. Big hug to Loop and all Red Issue chaps.
*Was CQTM one of Phil’s? He was certainly the one who I first saw use it.
**I remember once in a performance of 24HGP, instead of the fella wearing a “Red Shell (Staff) Issue Fleece” as he sometimes did, he was wearing a “Red Issue Fleece.” Another case of Taylo getting inside NB57’s head there one feels.
5 January 2023
wobs
CQTM was indeed one of Phil’s.
I believe they met in Bankers Draft in Sheffield (Weatherspoons?), (pre-gig drinks), where me and Loop met many of the Yahoo Group for the first time.
I’ve just tried to access the old group through an archiving syste, but without success, which is a shame. Don’t suppose it ended up in any of the reviews on the HMHB site?
As was said today, he was This Charming Man.
5 January 2023