The future is nearer than we think ......

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us.”

So it was that Charles Dickens described the transition from a rural economy to an era of manufacturing. An era which saw great upheaval and conflict but also tremendous discovery and innovation. It is a sentiment that might well apply to the present time as we move from the period of technology to the era of the consumer, and to the age of connections between and among people. An age where relationships come first and business follows later. The internet transformed our lives twenty years ago and the rate of change is gaining momentum with the advances of technology but it is Covid 19 that has amplified and accelerated everything with most people, to varying degrees, assessing and considering their lifestyle in the wake of the pandemic. The revolution that is breaking has put an even greater premium on privacy, space and amenity with an exodus from London of a younger generation seeking the sanctuary of a home with access to the sea and countryside and/or exploring a new work/life balance that enables many to work from home. As we move forward almost every one of our village houses will be a business, empowered by superfast broadband and each linked to every other in the world by satellite. Recessions inevitably come and go, being cyclical by nature, but we are witnessing dramatic structural change. We are indeed living through a revolution of the same magnitude as the one that Dickens experienced and which really did change everything. To succeed as a business in these challenging times.....

To succeed as a business in these challenging times, we will continue to refine our systems, be relentless in the pursuit of improvement, seek permission to engage our audience in a new way, become more anticipative of people’s needs and raise the service standards by which we are judged. First and foremost, ours is a people business and we believe in being human. While technology has changed consumer behaviour, it is the relationships that matter and often the best interactions still take place offline, which underlines the multiplying power of having a brick and mortar office as well as a robust website. Social media technologies should be a complement to and not a substitute for traditional ways of connecting with customers. Not for us the obsessing over how many Twitter followers of Facebook friends we have amassed as we prefer to engage more deeply with fewer people, not more. Our clients rightly demand pro-active sales people acting on their behalf with integrity, an efficient service, intelligent marketing, out of hour’s appointments, a good outcome and above all else, great communication. We do make mistakes and we get things wrong but we are a listening and a learning organisation. Listening to what our clients require of us and how we can improve in the service we provide. Learning how to optimise everything the internet has to offer and redefining how we communicate. We value our clients and understand that long term relationships with individuals need nurture, care and consideration, augmented by professionalism and background knowledge. As we move forward, diversify, adapt and evolve the business, we continue to be enthusiastic, optimistic and always grateful for your support. Be assured that we will continually strive to exceed your expectations over the coming years, in an uncertain and ever-changing world.

Dilys Mayor, a colleague and beloved friend, 1933- 2022

We dedicate this second edition of our Coastal & Country book to the memory Of Dilys Mayor who worked for Phillips and Stubbs for 25 years into her early eighties. Dilys edited the first edition to commemorate our 20 years anniversary and ten years on, to mark our thirty years, we had hoped that she would have been able to participate again but she sadly passed away in July.

Dilys was born in Pinner in 1933. She attended Pinner Grammar school where she excelled in athletics, running for Middlesex County and on at least one occasion competing against Dutch Olympian Fanny Blankers-Koen. 

With her husband Alan, she raised her family in South Woodford and Buckhurst Hill, becoming a mainstay of the local amateur dramatic society. She also went sailing with Alan, despite the fact she couldn't swim and was terrified of the water. 

She volunteered with The Family Planning Association until Alan's sudden death in 1976 when she went to work in an advertising agency to support her family. Apparently, she went to answer the phone, but ended up as a copy-writer and, characteristically, and unsurprisingly, made lifelong friends.

By the mid-1980's Dilys decided she needed a change of scene and moved to Rye, opening a shop at her house in Ferry Road from where she hired out theatrical costumes. She also worked with her friend Irene at Monroe's Restaurant on Cinque Port Street and before long at Phillips and Stubbs for some 25 years, until the age of eighty, a job she loved and where she was loved. (I think her frequent cake-baking may have helped!) It was, of course the ideal job for Dilys. She got to know everyone that moved to Rye –in fact many residents cite Dilys as the first person they ever met in Rye, because she sold them their houses when they moved there. 

She had a wide circle of friends from all age groups and was involved in many aspects of the town's life. In particular, she was a mainstay of the Rye Medieval Society and founded The Rye Shakespeare Company, putting on plays indoors and out around Rye over many years. She was always busy seeing friends, attending committees, or writing, acting in or producing plays for the RSC and Rye Players.