Angela Westwood and Stan Phillips pictured at the Book Centre for the launch of Stan’s book, ‘Love Never Dies’ , which was held at The Book Centre.
Photos: Joe Evans
“BY putting these words on paper, Stan Phillips has done a great deed,” said Damien Tiernan when speaking at the launch of ‘Love Never Dies’, recently held at The Book Centre.
The book of poetry has been collated in the memory of Stan’s partner, the late Bernadette Phillips who died on January 9 aged 64, just 83 days on from her initial cancer diagnosis.
“She was there for everybody,” said Stan of Bernadette, who stood as an independent candidate in the 2020 General Election. Stan wrote many of the poems in ‘Love Never Dies’ in the Palliative Care Unit of University Hospital Waterford (UHW), where Bernadette spent the closing weeks of her life.
Praising the unit’s staff for their love and care of Bernadette, Stan said there weren’t enough positive words he could spare when describing their efforts during those trying, draining days and nights.
“The care they gave is the kind of care that we should have in hospitals everywhere,” said Stan. “And let me tell you something: whenever you’re grieving or whenever you’re sad, find something that will make you laugh.”
Speaking to the Waterford News & Star in January, Stan stated: “Bernadette was an advocate for older people, a campaigner for teenage mothers to stay in education, a candidate for the Dáil, and a passionate writer about inequality and injustice. But above all, she was my precious girl for all our years, and it feels as if my soul has been ripped from my body.”
“I have been blown away by the esteem in which my lovely girl was held by so many people, and though I still have many tears to shed, I feel restored by the love shown me during my ‘dark night of the soul’, and though a new day will dawn without an opportunity to sleep, and though there is much to do before slumber becomes a possibility, I am determined to rise again from this despair and find a purpose for my grief.”
Stan thanked everyone who had assisted him in publishing the book, including his sister Karen, Regina Mangan of Liberty Blue and Michael O’Neill of the Tower Hotel, as well as Damien Tiernan and musician Liam Merriman. “A wide range of people made this possible,” said a grateful Stan.
Liam, well known for his work with the Waterford Healing Arts Trust (WHAT) provided musical accompaniment at the launch, including Ralph McTell’s ‘Streets Of London’, which was one of Bernadette’s favourite numbers.
Bishop of Waterford & Lismore, Alphonsus Cullinan was among those who attended the launch held on May 5. All profits generated from the sale of ‘Love Never Dies’ will be donated to the Palliative Care Unit at UHW.
At the launch, Stan also acknowledged the loss of well-known Waterford actor and activist, Jenni Ledwell, extending his sympathies to those who knew and loved Jenni best.
Author Stan Phillips, musician Liam Merriman and MC Damien Tiernan (WLR) pictured at the launch of ‘Love Never Dies’.