Philippa is Secretary to the Taste of the Town Company. She has a commitment to living as part of the local community and a keen interest in the place of food as a cohesive force within this.

Philippa grew up in a strong rural community in Morayshire where farming, fishing and distilling whisky are the local industries. She moved to London to work for the BBC in the Personnel section of the Drama Department. She then set off to see Italy for 3 months but stayed 2 years. She went to Art College in Florence and paid her way by giving English lessons. She returned to the BBC and then worked for a property developer before being drawn back to Venice to work for the American based International Fund for Monuments. The fund was involved in restoration work after the floods. Her job was to draw the attention of visitors to the work of the fund in the hope of contributions. She met Keith and they got married in Scotland but returned to Italy to live in the heart of Chianti country. Then she worked for an architect and was involved in running a 'small is beautiful' conference that promoted environmental friendly and sustainable work practices. They returned to England when Keith set out to train as a solicitor.

Philippa worked for Rubery Owen at Prees, a rural location and remembers it as a time when freezers were less common and the staff used to bring in their own grown produce and exchange it with each other. Keith decided to return to outdoor working and joined Bridgemere Nurseries. Philippa stayed at home to raise the children. More recently she spent three summers working at Wollerton Hall Gardens preparing salads and serving in the tea rooms. She is currently Secretary of the Hodnet Deanery Committee of the Childrens Society. Her voluntary work as Secretary of the Taste of the Town Company is an extension of her interest and commitment to local community.