Whenever I saw Phillipa in action as a scholar, I thought: "she is going to make a big career, will be a fameous historian one day." Whenever I met her as a friend, I thought one is so lucky to have her as a friend. What a loss for all of us! Cruel, cruel world 😔

I will always remember the time Philippa invited me to the Royal Opera House in 2018. With a spare ticket for a performance of “La bohème” – Ale was unexpectedly in New York – Philippa suggested we meet up for a glass of bubbly before the performance to catch up. In the majestic setting of the Paul Hamlyn Hall, Philippa was in sparkling form. She switched effortlessly between an earnest take on a particular injustice, to a hilarious joke, to a brilliant insight drawing on her research, all with warmth and laughter and light. This is just one example that shows why people use the words they use when talking about Philippa: brilliant, generous, kind, funny, erudite, determined, eloquent. The list goes on. I feel incredibly lucky to have known Philippa – to have been a colleague, a friend, and a co-author. And it’s so desperately unfair that she has gone. But Philippa will live on – in her work and in our memories of her. I send my heartfelt condolences to Ale and other members of Philippa’s family.

Ours hearts are breaking for you. We have beautiful memories of Phillippa as a young girl. Sending lots love and many hugs. Sue, Bruce, Brett, Alicia, Kieran & Renae xoxo