A LIFELONG Salvationist has published his memoirs.

Phil Carey, who received the MBE last year for his charity work, has been a well-known figure in Bournemouth since he moved to the town in 1978.

Memoirs of an Ordinary Londoner starts with Phil’s early life in Tottenham his career at school.

He first came to Bournemouth in 1941, as an RAF conscript stationed at Hurn Airport and staying at a guest house in Florence Road, Boscombe, before embarking for Utah beach.

As Europe was liberated, he headed east with Allied forces all the way to Lubeck close to the Russian border and was at the newly-liberated Belsen concentration camp.

Phil followed his parents into the fruit and veg trade and helped transform the way fresh produce was supplied to supermarkets.

His life in the Salvation Army began when was an office boy at its international headquarters in London in 1936.

In 2005, he was invited by General John Larsson to tour the SA’s new International Headquarters as one of the few remaining office boys who worked at the original building, which had been bombed in 1941.

Phil and his late wife Olive moved to Bournemouth in 1978. Phil was a Bournemouth councillor and Rotarian as well as a leading Salvationist, involved with the Boscombe, Poole and Winton corps.

He writes: “I organised major charity concerts at the Winter Gardens and the Pavilion, using our local musical sections and soloists, raising thousands of pounds.”

He adds: “But it was essential to continually remind oneself that the reason for all Salvation Army activity was the proclamation of the love of our Lord Jesus Christ through music, song, worship and aid for those in need.”

Phil, 92, continues to be active in the Salvation Army, as well as running the Daily Echo’s annual Toy Appeal for the past 17 years.

Memoirs of an Ordinary Londoner features many pictures and Echo cuttings alongside Phil’s recollections. It costs £14.99 from Olympia Publishers, olympiapublishers.com and can be ordered through booksellers.