After the end of the second world war David Phillimore committed himself to the work of the Moral Re-Armament movement. My friend David Phillimore, who has died aged 91, was a pilot with Transport Command during the second world war, based largely in Cairo. As well as carrying supplies and men to north Africa, he flew to India and Burma and other dangerous destinations, often returning with wounded servicemen.
After the war he committed himself to the reconciliation work of the Moral Re-Armament movement. He worked backstage as a carpenter with MRA's Christian theatre productions, such as Jotham Valley, which was staged on Broadway in 1951, and in Hollywood. I remember working with him in New York, building sets for the show and watching him help to construct a stage for the show's presentation at the Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, Lake Michigan.
David was a passionate and imaginative supporter of the Westminster Theatre, London, which had been established to honour MRA's service personnel who had died in the war. He worked tirelessly to publicise its plays, even in the US, to bring American audiences across the Atlantic.
As a young man he had farmed in Kenya. Living in Wimbledon, south-west London, in the 60s, he started beekeeping; at one time he had 100 hives and taught with the Surrey Beekeepers Association. In the mid-70s he moved to Thursley, near Godalming, where he farmed sheep and finally cattle.
His funeral began with a recording of the Jotham Valley cast singing, "Look to the mountains, see the sun come busting over", from the finale of the show. David is survived by his wife, Catherine, whom he married in 1957; and their daughter, Clare.
First published in The Guardian online edition, 16 December 2013.
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