"A year after taking up running in 1982 Philip completed the London Marathon in just over three and a half hours and in 1984 he decided to take on a Round-Britain run of over 2,300 miles. His book, 'So Many Miles for Mary', is in memory of Philip's niece Mary who died of cancer.

Philip completed the run in 70 days, starting and finishing at Wool in Dorset. His route took him first west to Land's End, then up the north coast of Cornwall and Devon to Bristol and South wales.

From St. David's he ran through mid Wales to Chester and continued north through Lancaster and Carlisle into Scotland. From Glasgow he passed through the North West Highlands to Durness before turning east to take in John O'Groats and then South to Inverness, Perth and Edinburgh.

Philip followed the east coast through Newcastle, Hull, King's Lynn, Norwich and Lowestoft, before turning for London and a final leg through Surrey and Hampshire. His base for the run was a touring caravan towed by his wife Megan driving a saloon car.

'So Many Miles for Mary' is the story of an epic journey. In it Philip describes places as he passed through, and the highs and lows of the adventrues.

As he crosses Dartmoor, South Wales, Scotland and Eastern England he captures the changing environment and wild life as they existed nearly twenty years ago. As well as a fascinating travel diary, his book is an inspiration to anyone thinking of taking up a new challenge in their fifties.

Philip was born in Newtown Montgomeryshire on 24 May 1928 in a house called St. Davids on the Caersws road. He was the fifth son to be born to Mr and Mrs A. C. R. David. He was baptized John Philip Illtydd but was always known as as Philip.

Philip was educated locally and at age fourteen he went away to HMS Worcester, a pre-sea training establishment and nautical college, he was so small when joining that his hat had to be made especially for him.

When he arrived he was made to stand on a sea chest and it was announced to the whole school that this was how small the boys being sent to them were.

After leaving HMS Worcester Philip attended what is now known as Outward Bound Wales at Aberdovey. On calling there sixty years later there were able to put their hands on his record of attendance in no time at all.

He joined the Merchant Service in 1946 as a cadet with Clan Line Steamers and obtained his Master's certificate at Cardiff in 1955, but had to leave the service in 1960 owing to ill health.

He and his wife Megan, whom he married in 1958, ran a motel in New Zealand for several years in the 1970s and later lived in retirement in Salem in Carmarthenshire. Philip died on 24 March 2004 shortly after the publication of his book. He leaves three grown-up daughters."

Article written by Frances Davies