One of Portadown's most colourful and best-loved
characters, Philip Caddell, has died in hospital after a long illness.
Philip (55) led a rather unique life. He was a pub and night club
entertainer in sunny Tenerife in the Canary Islands for 25 years. And
before that, he was a disc jockey in Majorca and Sweden. His home in
Portadown was at 95 Tandragee Road. The son of May Caddell and the late
Tommy Caddell, he is survived by his mother, sisters Patricia McCleery
and Stephanie Curry and brothers-in-law Bertie and Dessie.
Every year - May and October when the holiday season slackened in
Tenerife - he travelled home to Portadown to see his mother and family.
Educated at Thomas Street Primary School and Portadown College, it was
obvious from the start that Philip was something of a non-conformist. He
loved all sorts of music, especially the folk genre, and entertained
with his singing, his guitar playing and his expertise on the banjo.
He could also play the piano, but not always the way his teacher, the
legendary Ivy Jones of Church Street, would have wanted. He could play
by ear, rather than by sheet music, but Mrs Jones, being something of a
character herself, always encouraged self-expression. As well as having
a keen ear for music, Philip also had a fine sense of humour, and this
was especially appreciated at school and in the various sports which he
played, for pure enjoyment. He played football, rugby, cricket and table
tennis, and enjoyed a flutter on various sports on a Saturday.
After Portadown College, he went to the University of Ulster in
Coleraine, although the family - who dearly loved him - still find it
difficult to recall exactly what his official subjects were! His main
love was the folk and entertainment scene at the university, and he
abandoned formal studies completely after his first year year to follow
his love of music - initially as a DJ and general entertainer.
Along with friends like Michael Fullerton, Roy McIntosh and Norman
‘Mooch’ Kerr, he performed at weekends in pubs and night clubs in places
like Kilkeel, County Down, and soon after that he decided to try his
luck further afield. His first stop was Arenal, Majorca, where he was
known as DJ ‘Phil Dell’ and he stayed there for a number of years before
heading north to Sweden.
While in Majorca and Sweden, his ear for languages emerged. He became
fluent in Spanish and Swedish, and could also converse in Dutch, French
and German, which was especially appreciated by the tourists.
Then - feeling his was becoming a bit long in the tooth to continue as a
DJ - he decided to stick to the folk music scene, mainly with guitar
accompaniment. At that, he headed south for Tenerife and its guaranteed
year-round sunshine. He loved nothing better than spotting an Irish
tourist among his audience, and he would get them on stage to perform
their party piece and join in the craic.
He played solo, or in a duo and at times a trio, and one of his musical
partners included a guitarist who played with the Wurzels - which was a
rather different branch of folk music than Philip’s. He loved Irish folk
and was known as ‘The Irish Rover’ in Tenerife. He also organised famous
beach parties in the Canaries and these were loved by his fans and
admirers.
Sadly, Philip contracted cancer in the early summer of 2006 and returned
home to Portadown, although surgery at that time seemed to work. But the
cancer returned and he died in hospital after a brave fight against a
condition he knew to be terminal.
The funeral service was at Thomas Street Methodist Church, where the
minister the Rev Colin Meneely conducted the service, assisted by
pastoral assistant Myrtle Wright. Burial was at Seagoe Cemetery.