Philip (Phil) Brookes

We just wanted to send over our deepest condolences. We are so sorry to hear that Phil passed away, We know this is incredible difficult for you and your family. Phil was a well-established researcher and his wisdom, kindness and sense of humor as well as generosity always impact us.

It’s clear that Phil had a profound impact on Chinese students’ lives and careers.

Phil took students under his wing and opened a new research world for them. For example, he introduced a young man to his best friend, a well established Canadian Professor to pursue a PhD degree. Phil’s strong support and belief in this young man’s abilities shaped this young man the confidence to pursue his dreams fearlessly as a Research Scientist now.

As we say him farewell and remember that Phil’s legacy lives on. We cherish the memories and celebrate his wisdom, humor, kindness, and generosity, and we believe that he continues to inspire us with his incredible legendary life.

May Phil rest in peace. He improved the lives of those he helped, especially Chinese students. He can never tell where his influence stops. Phil lives in our hearts forever.

Drs. Qimei Lin, Guitong Li, Xiaorong Zhao (group leaders) and many other students in this group (Total: 123)

Soil Microbiology Research Group
China Agricultural University

We just wanted to send over our deepest condolences. We are so sad to hear that Phil passed away. Phil was a legendary man with well-established academic reputation and wisdom, kindness and sense of humor as well as generosity.

Also, Phil had a profound impact on Chinese students’ lives and careers. With Phil’s knowledge, dedication and patience, he supervised countless Chinese Soil Scientists with their early academic journeys.

For example,

Jinshui Wu, 1987-1990 (study time), Rothamsted Research

Qimei Lin, , 1991-1994 (study time), Rothamsted Research

Jianming Xu, 2012-2019 (research time), Zhejiang University

Renfang Shen, 1994-1995 (research time), Rothamsted Research


As he always mentioned “we come from soil, and we will be back to soil again”. We realized everything has its time, a time to be born, and a time to die.
It is also a time to say goodbye. May Phil rest in peace. We all miss you and LOVE you.

Yours,

Jinshui Wu, Qimei Lin, Jianming Xu, Renfang Shen, Xudong Zhang, Minggang Xu, Shengli Guo

Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Agricultural University and Zhejiang University

So sorry for Phil's passing. Our typical loveable absent minded professor and a real character. Will never be forgotten at Rothamsted by many people.

I had the opportunity to work in Phil's lab at Rothamsted for a few months many years ago. I then collaborated with him in the following years and had the honour of being his co-author on 3 scientific articles.
In addition to his well-recognised scientific importance, I would like to remember him as a kind person, always willing to help, advise and encourage his students and collaborators. He never showed a sense of superiority, but on the contrary was very likeable and always ready to make clever jokes with typical British humour.
I am grateful to him for his teachings, for the support and encouragement of my scientific career and for his great benevolence.
To his family and loved ones my sincerest condolences.

To all who have sent their condolences via this RIP service, please accept whole hearted thanks from Phil’s family in the Uk. Reading your messages has meant so much to us, we have also learnt how much he meant to everyone together with gaining further insight into his academic achievements, successes and friendships.

Very sad to know about the Phill, he left us forever, he was very good teacher, researcher and friend. We learn a lot from him, from 2008 to 2012 during my PhD from Zhejiang university we spend very good time with him, even later when I came back to my country whenever I contact him, he respond within time and always send message to know about our health and family. He was so caring; he was legendary scientist in the field of soil sciences. Phil you will remain alive in our hearts forever.

Very sad to know about the Phill, he left us for ever, he was very good teacher, researcher and friend. we learn a lot from him, he was legnedery scientist in the field of soil sciences. Phil you will remain alive in our hearts for ever.

It is so sad to hear that Phil left us forever. I stayed in Phil's lab in Rothamsted for 1 year from 2007 to 2008. It was the best time of my life. Phil is my supervisor. He is so kind, lovely and humours. He also is a great soil scientist. I have received many guidance from him. He made me fall in love with science. He is also a man who loves life. We had lots of fun in his party. He is very good at making pasta sauce. After his retirement, he worked in Zhejiang University China for several years. I visited him every year. He has made outstanding contributions to the cultivation of soil science talents in China. He will always live in our hearts.

So sorry to hear of Phil such a lovely man. Phil and I had so many chats and laughter over the phone and in works. Often rang from some obscure destination and saying that he was eating some weird concoction. We talked about his boat. Also he always wanted to make sure his badge was still working to get into Rotho. Bless you Phil see you in the after life ha ha (duck) Pam x

Dear Phil:
It's my regret not to see you again. You are the best person I have ever met. You have made significant contributions to science, and your life is already exciting enough to be remembered by history.
Thank you for all your guidance and help. Your humor brings happiness to people, and your kindness helps others. All of these have deeply influenced me. I am so fortunate to be your student and friend, and I will always remember you, thank you, and miss you!
Jiuwei Song (Wade)

The condolence brings me back a lot of memories with Phil and our group.
It was unexpected and grateful for me to have Phil as my PhD supervisor. Unlike Chinese supervision, Phil was so nice and treated all students as friends. He invited us to his Christmas party every year and we brought some gifts to make him feel at home.
Phil always encouraged me in scientific research, which made me confident about my PhD subject. I appreciated Phil for suggesting a study opportunity at Udine University and introducing me to many good colleges.
It was a pity that Phil had only a few years of retirement before he left.
Rest in peace, Phil. You will live in our hearts forever.

Xiaoyu Zhou (Jane)

My dear Phil,
How could you leave us so soon? Only on Sept. 21, you had posted two of your old conference papers on ResearchGate and suddenly you left us on 28th Sept. Am very sad Phil that this December I will not get a reply from you when I send Christmas wishes or for Easter next year, or forever!
My time spent with you during 2007-08 as Rothamsted International Post-Doc Fellow had been a defining period for me, career-wise and personally. I learned so much in that one year. Your lab was always full researchers from all over the world, always lively, always happy! Will remember you whenever I will be writing to them lab mates. I will also cherish the special time spent with you when you had visited India with Prof. David Powlson to deliver an invited talk in the 97th Indian Science Congress held at Tiruvananthapuram during Jan 3-10, 2010.
Wherever you are Phil, you will be ever remembered for the magnificent contribution made for estimation of soil microbial biomass. A simple but highly robust method that will always be employed to help humanity be food-secure.
A strange coincidence. Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, Father of Indian Green Revolution, had left us on 28th Sept. Don't know if great scientists leave together!
Phil, I join my family, whom you always wished well, to thank you and pray for your soul to rest in peace. On earth, you will have joined the microbial biomass in the soil with your typical microbial signature! Be Happy!

The members of the Joyce Country Mens' Shed wish to express their deepest sympathies to the family of Phil Brookes on his untimely passing.
Phil made his home here in the West of Ireland and frequently joined us in the Mens' Shed in Cor na Móna, Co. Galway and had the joy of working with him on many a project, mainly in his favourite hobby of beekeeping. There was little that he didn't know on the topic being the brilliant mind that he was. And of course, to ease the work along he shared a "cuppa" with us and was well able to join in the banter and fun that ensued. We truly loved his company and will miss him enormously. Not alone was he an outstanding scientist but was also kind, generous and entertaining.
Agus mar sin, slán Phil, go raibh maith agat agus "codladh sámh".
Séid na bhFear Dúiche Seoigheach.

Phil has been my PhD supervisor in Rothamsted, and thereafter after finishing my PhD a long-lasting colleague and friend. Our scientific and personal relationships seemed endless. In Phil I’ve found a master, always ready to reply my requests. He was of profound inspiration and help for my work and my life.
I have many and so good memories of Phil visits to Italy, from the alps to the seaside. Every time something memorable. His humor, sympathy and gentleness will stay in me forever.
Sincere sympathy to the family and to who was close him in the last days.

Sincere sympathy to Phil's brothers and friends on his recent death.
I have wonderful memories of great fishing days on Lough Mask with Phil over many years. His professional and scientific knowledge pertaining to the ecology and fragility of the lake remains with me every time I go angling. He was great company, and I will miss our conversations greatly.
Rest in Peace Phil.

It was a shocking message to read that Phil passed away. This is really sad. He was an enthusiastic scientist who headed me into a fruitful research direction after intensive and constructive discussions at Rothamsted, on many conferences and meetings. His talks always ended with a nice link to his fishing experience and his beloved cottage close to Ballinrobe. I will miss him.

I’m eternally grateful to Phil: for the guidance he gave me, for his friendship, humour, and the honour of knowing him.

It was a privilege to be in Phil’s legendary team at Rothamsted, which now stretches far and wide across the globe. His published legacy will continue to inspire students and researchers for decades, if not centuries to come. I look forward to raising a glass in his honour with reunited companions.

My deepest condolences to Phil's many friends and family. I have such happy memories of working with Phil at Rothamsted, visiting him in Balinrobe and traveling with him in Ireland. Most of all, I remember a truly lovely, kind man with a great big heart. Rest in peace Phil.

I offer my sincere condolences to Phil’s family. We have lost a great man. I learned life and profesional lessons from him. He was bright and intelligent, and his kindness was immense. He made me a better person and researcher. Rest in peace dear Phil.

This is a very sad news. Had a great privilege to interact and spend time with him. He was such a great person and inspired me to have fun and enjoy studying soil microorganisms. He will always be with us through his work and live through his students around the world.

We were very sorry to learn of Phil's death. He has been a great supporter of THE LOUGH CARRA Catchment Association charity and provided us with a fantastic link to Rothampsted Research Station. An amazing man with a great sense of humour. He will be greatly missed.

Together with my wife, Joy, I send my sincere condolences to Phil's family. I am currently away on holiday and only today heard the sad news. We are shocked and deeply saddened.

Phil and I worked together as scientists at Rothamsted for many years and became friends as well as close colleagues. I have enormous respect for Phil, both as a first rate scientist and as a fellow human being. Phil and I published many scientific papers together. Joy and I had the pleasure of staying at his former home in Balinrobe some years ago. During his time in China and then in Ireland we kept in touch by email every so often, though not for some weeks recently. We had hoped to visit Phil in Ireland in 2020 but Covid got in the way, then both of us moving house intervened.

Rest in peace Phil - we will miss you.
David and Joy Powlson

Sorry to hear this sad news, I feel indebted for the work and the nice time spent together at Rothamsted, he has been an outstanding scientist and he contributed a lot to my scientific and personal growth. Rest in peace Phil.

I am so sorry to hear this sad news. I worked with Phil for many years at Rothamsted, he was an excellent scientist, colleague and friend. I will always remember him keeping fish he had caught in one of the work freezers, bringing an enormous pumpkin in to share with his colleagues, and his immense kindness to all his many students and visiting workers from around the world. Rest in peace Phil.

We would like to send our condolences to Philip's family,especially Jeff, Lawrence, Jill & Jayne. He was my cousin, and although I did not know him well, Auntie Kath & Uncle Len often visited my parents home in the wye valley with him and his brothers. Unfortunately I missed the streamed service, but my sister Jane watched it and passed on the details
With sincere sympathy
Jill & Robin Culmstock Devon

Philip was my cousin and remember him as a lovely man with a gentle caring manner about him.
With my sisters we spent holidays with him and his brothers at the family home in Berkeley.
I watched the service on line and was very moved by the tributes paid to Philip..
From the Forest of Dean we send our condolences and love to Jeffrey, Lawrence and families.
Rest in Peace Philip.

My family and I send our sincere condolences to Phil's family and to all the friends that were near him in his last days. Your feelings of loss are shared around the world by the many research students that Phil supervised and that he not only helped to become scientists, but to whom he also inspired long lasting friendship and gratitude.
Phil was not only my PhD supervisor and life long scientific mentor, he soon became a beloved family friend and we will never forget how he offered to look after Michele (then 15 years old) and arranged for him to go to Rothamsted to work with him, the summer my husband had to be treated for cancer.
Phil will live on in our memory.

I am from the Forest of Dean Family. Philip is my cousin and I used to occasionally stay with his parents Auntie Kathleen and Uncle Len and the boys in Berkeley when I was a child and have a holiday. I remember going to the stream at the bottom of Berkeley where we could go fishing as Philip used to do. Brought back lovely memories and am so sad that he is no longer with us. I watched the service on line and it was beautifully done and a great tribute to Philip. May he rest in peace.
My condolences to all the family.

Sincere condolences to Phil"s family. May he rest in peace.

Dear Phil's relatives and friends,

The news has felt me in disbelief,
and I can only imagine the pain and sadness that you and
your family are going through, Phil was a remarkably person.
who touched the lives of many.

Please accept my deepest condolences once again.

With heartfelt sympathy

Dr. Kenji Kouno
Emeritus Professor
Hiroshima University

10545-1, Hara, Hachihonmatsu,
Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-0151, Japan
Tel: +81-82-429-0882
E-mail: kenkouno@red.megaegg.ne.jp

Sorry to hear that Phil Brookes has passed away.
We are deeply saddening, as we just met last summer, working with him for bee keeping.
We also remember our old days with Phil in England since 1986, sometime fishing together.
Please convey our condolence to his relatives and friends.
We hope he can take a rest peacefully.

With deepest sympathy

Kazuyuki and Mariko INUBUSHI

Professor,
Graduate School of Applied Bio Science,
Tokyo University of Agriculture
Setagaya, Tokyo 156-8502 JAPAN
Tel +81-3-5477-2313
E-mail　ki207932@nodai.ac.jp

Professor Emeritus, Grand Fellow,
Chiba University
Matsudo, Chiba 271-8510 JAPAN
E-mail　inubushi@faculty.chiba-u.jp

Sincere sympathy on the passing of Phil. A lovely gentleman . May he rest in peace .

Dear All,

I was deeply grieved to hear about the death of Prof. Dr. Philip C. Brookes, a great pioneer and master in Soil Science.

Death is not extinguishing the light. Prof. Philip’s scientific spirit, sincerity, and selflessness always nourish our younger generations, as fertile soils nourish crops and plants. Phil was my lifelong supervisor and friend. I always remember Phil’s Christmas party and sauna club, which gave us happiness and friendship.

Rest in peace, Phil, I believe heaven must have your terra. I offer my condolences to Phil’s family, his friends, and everyone who found their voice and their verse thanks to Philip C. Brookes.



Nelson Su
At Northwestern University, USA

It is with great sadness today that we mourn the loss of our dear friend, Professor Philip C. Brookes, a true luminary in the world of soil science. His remarkable contributions to Soil Science have earned him international acclaim as an academic master and pioneer. Since joining Zhejiang University in China as China's outstanding foreign expert in November 2012, Professor Philip C. Brookes built an exceptional team and mentored numerous outstanding students. His patient guidance in research experiment design, assistance in writing and publishing academic papers, and tireless dedication to setting a sterling example propelled the entire team's development. His impact on the discipline of soil science at Zhejiang University has been immeasurable.

As we bid farewell to Phil, we were deeply saddened and lost. He not only made an indelible mark in academia but also touched the lives of his students, friends, and family with deep affection. Phil was a cherished and beloved figure, and he will remain in our hearts forever.

Rest in peace, Phil. May you have happiness and good health in the heavens.

Zhejiang University:
Jianming Xu, Yan He, Xingmei Liu, Bin Ma, Haizhen Wang, Xianjin Tang, Baojing Gu, Lingfei Hu, Lingzao Zeng, Jiachun Shi, Yu Luo, Yong Li, Zhongmin Dai, Chenlu Lou
China Agricultural University:
Qimei Lin
Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences:
Renfang Shen
Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences:
Jinshui Wu

Dear All,

Saying goodbye to Phil is a tough task. I was his final doctoral student, and we remained together for a duration of more than eight years until his passing. He is more than just a dear friend, he has been an integral part of my life. I vividly remember visiting him with Paul Voroney in March 2023, and at that moment, I had a feeling it might be the last time we would meet in person. However, the sudden reality of his passing is hard for me to grasp fully, especially given the unfortunate circumstances that prevented me from attending Phil’s funeral in person.

I want to ask you to help convey my heartfelt farewell to Phil.

This loss we are all suffering is not limited to me alone; it touches that the lives of all those who knew and cared for Phil. He held a central place in my life, and I am committed to carrying forward his legacy of kindness and sincerity. I believe that he has found his well-deserved happiness in heaven.

Phil, you are deeply missed.

Qunli Shen (Seven)

At UC Berkeley, USA

Sincere sympathy to Phil's family on his passing. He was a great gentleman and he will be truly missed and will never be forgotten. I value the great help Phil has given me. May he rest in peace.

Deepest sympathy to the family of our friend and neighbour. May he rest in peace.

Sincere condolences for your loss. I think back to all the fantastic times Phil and I shared a boat, fishing for trout. The bbq lunches of superbly smoked trout, a few nice glasses of wine, in excellent company.Phil was always such good company , terribly organised but he made our days together so speclal.Thankyou dear Phil for being such a fabulous character and adding so much fun to all our lives. ( Rex,Fred,Jonesy dec'd) Den , Geoff and Ian.

My deepest sympathy to Phils family and friends. He was a true gentleman and a wealth of knowledge. May his gentle soul rest in peace

Sincere sympathy to all Phil's family, so sad. Also to his great friends Vera & Declan Murphy, who would do anything for him. A gentleman. Lovely memories Seàn Keane, Killary cruiser Leenane which Phil enjoyed so much in said out of this world ! May he rest in peace 🙏

Sincere condolences to phils family at this sad time, a kind gentleman who will be sadly missed, may he rest in peace.

Deepest sympathy to Phil’s family on his passing.
It was my good fortune to meet Phil when I first came to lough Mask all those years ago.
He was the best of company and we had many unforgettable days on the lake .
He was so generous with his vast knowledge of so many aspects of life that I learned as much on our days out as i ever did in school .
May his true soul rest in peace.
Princes and Lords are but breath of Kings
But an honest man is the noblest work of God

RIP PHIL HE WAS A NICE NEIGHBOUR IN CASTLETOWN SINCERE SYMPATHY TO PHILS FAMILY MAY HE RIP.

Sincere condolences to Phils brothers and extended family. He was a lovely man. May his gentle soul Rest in Peace.

Our deepest sympathy to all the Brooke’s family. Rest in peace Phil, a wonderful character who will be missed by everyone

Rip Philip.

Sincere sympathy to Jeffrey, Lawrence and the Brooke family on the death of Phil. Phil resided in Castletown, The Neale for approx 27 years prior to moving to Caher. He was a gentleman, a kind neighbour and friend. May his gentle soul rest in peace.

Sincere sympathy to Phil's family.