Island Mourns Much-Loved Cartoonist Phil

Gef has learned of the passing of beloved Manx cartoonist Philip Sidney Woodford, aged 88.

Phil, from Port St Mary, was a household name across the island thanks to his wonderfully sharp, funny and unmistakably Manx cartoons.

A natural satirist with an eye for the quirks of island life, he spent many years at Media Isle of Man, where his weekly illustrations became a much-loved fixture alongside local headlines.

From gentle ribbing of Manx bureaucracy to cheeky nods to community oddities, Phil’s drawings captured moments that everyone recognised, and often laughed at.

In later life, Phil found a whole new audience online.

His Facebook page racked up thousands of hits as he continued to share his take on everything from weather woes to politics to Manx everyday life. He remained as sharp, warm and witty as ever.

In 2018, his work was celebrated with a dedicated exhibition at the House of Manannan, an honour he said made him ‘very proud’.

Among his more recent creations was a cartoon of Gef the Mongoose ‘escaping’ from the Wildlife Park and later being spotted at the brewery, a moment of silliness we were especially fond of.

But one image that will stay with many was his powerful Covid-19 cartoon, used on the front page of the Examiner, showing the Three Legs of Man booting the virus away. It became one of the defining pieces of Manx imagery from that time.

Phil passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, November 13, 2025.

He leaves behind his devoted wife Irene, their children Helen, Richard and Robert, and his grandchildren Jade, Jack, Nathan and Lauren, as well as his brother John.

A celebration of his life will take place at St Mary’s Church, Port St Mary, at 11.45am on Friday, November 28, 2025. Family flowers only; donations can be made to Hospice Isle of Man. Enquiries: T.S. Keggen & Son Ltd., Tel 833133.

Everyone at Media Isle of Man’s thoughts are with Phil’s nearest and dearest at this time.