Wallsend professional Ken Phillips has lost his battle against cancer at the age of 46. He taught thousands of players, many of whom went on to win championships and become top players including five-times Northumberland County Ladies Champion and England cap Julie Ross from Whitley Bay .
He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2003 but refused chemotherapy and instead used alternative methods of treatment.
However, his condition deteriorated last year and he started chemotherapy. But he died in his sleep at his North Shields home last week.
Ken was married to Elizabeth, a teaching assistant, and had three children, Kenneth, 19, Olivia, 16, and Iona, 10.