St Andrew's

Spotlight - "Our Children's Advocate" - The Story of Veronica Phillips

Veronica was born in Essex and lived with her Mother and Grandmother. During the Second World War her Father, who later became the Headmaster of the primary school in Stowmarket, Suffolk, was stationed in Gibraltar. Veronica slept under the oak dining room table , her Mother on one side and Grandmother on the other. She particularly remembers this as she was woken up one night , probably the night the house next door was bombed. Sleeping under a hefty table was recommended as being safer during air raids.

Veronica’s Mother was predominantly a housewife but did teach English, and being quite adventurous enjoyed climbing in the Alps before she married. The family moved to Stowmarket , Suffolk on Veronica’s 6th birthday. She loved camping and swimming , often in April when the sea was very cold . Her Aunt’s calling had led her to a Catholic Monastery where she became a Carmelite nun, In those days contact was not allowed and conversation was through a grill. As babies, Veronica and her brother , Richard were passed through in a drawer to their Aunt so that they could be held. Veronica visited her Aunt often through her 63 years as a Carmelite and after her death inherited her Rosary.

As a strict Roman Catholic Veronica attended Our lady of Dolours Catholic church in Stowmarket and made her first Communion at the age of six. She went to a Convent school at the age of ten, which was quite strict and as a free spirit found it rather claustrophobic. She sang in the Church choir and pumped the organ, making sure it never ran out of air, as if it did it would sound like a dying , dodgy tape recording. Her interests at this time were Jazz, Girl Guides ,competitive swimming and playing clarinet.

Veronica experienced something quite special one Lenten day in church. Singing the Stabat Mater she was moved by the sadness and sensitivity of the music and picture of Jesus dying on the Cross. The depth of this sensitive connection and touch of the Holy Spirit, became an important moment in her life , which she found too much to share at the time.

Moving to London at 21, Veronica studied at Digby Stuart College , training to teach French and Drama.The swinging sixties , the lights of London and Jazz soon took over her life. However the Lord was never too far away. On completing her teaching qualification, Veronica taught in a variety of schools, from a tough boys Comprehensive in South London, to the Jewish Free School in Camden, to Catholic primary schools in Hammersmith and Kensington. Her longest stint was in the Servite School in Fulham Road.

In 1968 Veronica married Morgan , whom she had met through her teacher friends.they had three children: Catherine and Alexander , 32 year old twins , and Gregory, the eldest, who sadly died at the age of sixteen.

During her late 40’s Veronica decided to study music education through Trinity College of Music and became a peripatetic primary music teacher..She had tremendous fun collaborating with a dance teacher , writing and producing a great show : “Father Christmas and the Sugar Plum Fairy”, which involved the whole of Ashburnham Primary School and was a great success.
As if this was not enough! Veronica was also involved in Special Needs teaching; a highly demanding job. She remembers one incident with fondness: making porridge with one excited pupil who not only loved to cook it but also play with it—there was porridge everywhere, all over the floor1

In 1998 Veronica gave up teaching on a full time basis in order to attend a course in Voice Movement Therapy. This has both theatrical and therapeutic uses and has enabled her to experience the full range of the voice as an expressive and musical instrument. She works with people to help them find their voice as an emotional and creative outlet.
She is very interested in the power of sound and its healing potential. In particular Veronica found this part of her life to be the start of a journey that would see her arrival at St. Andrew’s. Although Voice Movement therapy is not a religious training there is a connection.: “ In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” ( John 1:1). There is a strong connection between sound and the essence of God. “ Voice Movement Therapy is an exploration of the self through the use of voice.The system is used to explore and open up the vocal range , allowing access to many parts of the self. It combines psychotherapeutic principles with breath work, movement, imagery, song and improvisation. Through sound and movement VMT seeks to explore the relationship of mind , body and spirit, and give expression to the conditions which arise from being human.” (www.vmtuk.com.) This sounds rather earnest, but involves a good deal of fun, laughter and letting your hair down!

Veronica went on to study Psychotherapy and works also as a Psychotherapist. She mainly works with people who live with Multiple Sclerosis. Underpinning all her work is a sense of the depth of each human being : “ Soul has an unborn brilliance and beauty that therapy ( can help) to release.” ( John Pierrakos ). At present Veronica is writing a thesis about psychotherapy with MS clients.

As I mentioned earlier the Lord never left Veronica and guided her to St. Alban’s in 2001. At the invitation of Father Maple she became Church warden and Children’s Advocate. In 2005 , when St. Alban’s closed , she with others from there moved to St. Andrew’s. Veronica has been involved in Children’s church and is the children’s Advocate and as you can see from the photos is immersed in toys, art and bits of food.

Veronica loves extending her knowledge of other religions and religious texts. She joins Dances of Universal Peace which meets once a month at St. Alban’s : prayer through song and dance, and sometimes prays the Our Father in Aramaic.