Philippa Gray (née Cherry) was born on 30 March 1965 in Dundee. She was the youngest daughter of Muir and Elizabeth Cherry and a younger sister to Gavin and Nick Cherry.
Of her time at the High School of Dundee, Philippa always spoke very fondly of the friends she made, many of whom lasted her lifetime. Upon leaving the School in 1983, Philippa headed north to Aberdeen to study for her BSc in Nutrition and Dietetics at Robert Gordon’s Institute of Technology (RGIT), now known as Robert Gordon’s University. She had a very successful and busy three years there obtaining her degree in 1986, and forming many strong friendships along the way.
After completing a clinical year of State Registration, Philippa was quickly offered a graduate job within RGIT lecturing to dietetic Undergraduates in Food Technology. She excelled at this and many students to this day reflect on her motivating and entertaining classes. After a few years back in Granite City, Philippa strived for a change of scenery and a new challenge and so she moved to Edinburgh, which remained her home for the rest of her life.
It was whilst she was in Edinburgh that Philippa completed a Post-graduate Secretarial Course that enabled her to join the business world as a well-respected Project Manager. Philippa had many
remarkable qualities, which underpinned her success in the workplace and as a mother.
In 1993, Philippa’s daughter Katie was born and in the following year, she gave birth to her son Alasdair, who she affectionately admitted were her greatest joy. Described as a fantastic host, she loved having her house full of friends and family for fun evenings with fantastic food. Whether it was the Christmas Carol Service or stood on the sidelines of a freezing cold rugby pitch, Philippa took so much pride in her children and supporting them in all of their endeavours. Philippa adored not only her children but her nieces and nephew too.
Her children have described their mother as a true lover of life who ensured they both had the most fantastic upbringing. They were able to travel all over the world and in particular to one of their most favourite places as a family, Canada. In January 2018, Katie spread some of her mother’s ashes in Whistler, British Columbia, where they shared many amazing memories.
Philippa passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on 3December 2017, aged 52. She is survived by her two children, who both loved their mother beyond measure.
Katie and Alasdair would love for anyone who knew their mother during her school days, who have any memories they would like to share, to contact Katie on kklmgray113@googlemail.com, who is producing a memory book of her mother
