Dear Readers of Openshaw Memories,

I am Anne Philpott, Derek’s daughter, and I wanted to let you know that, sadly, my dad died in January. We will miss him terribly.

He was incredibly proud of his roots in Openshaw, and this website shows his pride. He created it with great love, kindness, and care, and took real pleasure in knowing that others who grew up in Openshaw during the same time could reconnect with those shared memories.

Although he often reflected that growing up in what was once the most industrial suburb in Europe could be challenging, he also believed that something valuable has been lost over time—particularly the strong sense of community and shared lives that once defined the area.

We were very proud to have his obituary published in The Guardian, which highlights his labour of love, Openshaw Memories:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/feb/20/derek-philpott-obituary

With best wishes,
Anne
on behalf of Derek’s family