Ad men and women have many hobbies - sleeping with each other, extreme
sports, driving fast cars - but few can hope to aspire to the gracious
heights of Phil Mason. Mason, who helped create BA’s ‘Manhattan’ ad
during his many years at Saatchi and Saatchi, was the talented art
director who died of cancer in August.
One of Phil’s many passions was collecting and growing clematis. His
garden in Balham boasted a riot of colour throughout the summer thanks
to these spectacular climbing plants.
Phil’s conversation was peppered, not with the usual adland gossip, but
with other far more important names: the Countess of Lovelace, Daniel
Deronda, Nelly Moser et al.
Now a bunch of Phil’s mates have got together and named a clematis in
his honour. This new breed - entitled Clematis Pitcheri Phil Mason - has
‘classical urn-shaped flowers of cream vignettes to rose downy foliage’.
Poetry indeed.
The plants will be ready next summer and the price has yet to be
finalised - but pounds 15 plus a donation to a cancer charity is likely.
If you’d like to be placed on the waiting list, contact John Bailey by
telephone or fax on 0171-437 2550.
