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LIFELONG Arsenal fan Queenie Phillips, who has died aged 101, was a staunch royalist – but to her family she will always be “Our Queen”.

Queenie, of Tufnell Park, who died in the Whittington Hospital last month, took great pride in remembering family birthdays, ensuring cards sent to her four children, seven grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren always arrived on time.

Born in Alexander Road in 1914, Queenie lived in Holloway and Tufnell Park her whole life – not even a V2 rocket landing near her home in Giesbach Road in 1944 could move her out of the borough.

A natural-born storyteller, she would keep her large family enraptured with memories of both World Wars. “You’d chat about the wars with her,” said granddaughter Helene Baker. “She would tell you about the bombing and the bunker she had to hide in, even the chicken she kept. Her memory was so vivid, she could even remember when she was four or five.”

It was love at first sight when Queenie met painter and decorator Joe in 1937. His special nickname for her was “Doll”, owing to her great beauty. Joe even taught one of their budgies to call out: “Hello Doll!”


Sport played a huge role in Queenie’s life. She visited all three of Arsenal’s grounds and celebrated her 100th birthday with a tour of the Emirates Stadium, beaming as she met Arsenal legend Charlie George and proudly wearing her special Arsenal strip emblazoned with “QUEENIE 100”.

“Even when she was in hospital she made sure she could watch the football,” said Helene. “She was so happy she managed to see Arsenal win their 12th FA Cup. Nan loved horseracing but snooker was her favourite though; she would sit up and watch games until late at night.”

A familiar sight in Holloway would have been the couple going on their weekly shop in Nag’s Head.

“Joe would get a paper that morning, they would check the races together and then go back out. He would place the bets, she’d take her trolley and go the shops.”

One of her first jobs was at the Ever Ready battery factory in Hercules Place in Holloway, but while raising her growing family she would painstakingly decorate lead toy soldiers at home. Like many women in Islington during the post-war years, Queenie was supplied with enamel paints and unfinished toys by Britains factory in Lambton Road, Archway. This delicate and time-consuming homework had to fit around bringing up her four children.

An eye for detail never left Queenie. Despite having arthritis in one thumb, she continued knitting dolls’ clothing and cardigans for charities until she became unwell and went into hospital in May this year.

A real homebody, Queenie took great pleasure from her front room, rearranging the many pictures, memorabilia and knick-knacks she had collected. Portraits of the Royal Family mingled with personal snaps.

The 100th birthday cards from Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and the Queen had pride of place on the mantelpiece.

It was in her front room that she felt at peace completing word searches, watching the football, reading romance novels and enjoying a cup of tea and a biscuit.

The entire family will be meeting this weekend to share memories and celebrate her life.

“The whole family loved Nan to bits,” said Helene. “We’re going to miss her so much. She was a very elegant and happy lady.”