TV star Phil Spencer’s parents killed in car crash after vehicle careers into river on family farm
TELLY host Phil Spencer was grieving last night after his parents died when their car careered into a river on the family farm where he grew up.
The Location, Location, Location star’s father Richard, 89, and mother Anne, 82, were pulled from the vehicle but could not be saved.
Phil’s co-presenter and close friend Kirstie Allsopp said yesterday it was a comfort to him that his parents were together when they died.
They were on their way to a local pub for lunch on Friday when their car veered off the access road into a shallow tributary river running through their estate.
Police and the fire brigade raced to the scene while an air ambulance landed on the farm at Littlebourne, near Canterbury, Kent.
Richard and Anne were pulled out and taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead and she later died.
A woman in her 60s was also in the car and suffered minor injuries.
Phil, 53, was last night with older brother David and younger sisters Caryn and Helen.
Kirstie said: “I’ve spoken to Phil and it’s tragic for the Spencer family, but his parents were together and that’s something that is a great source of solace to them all.
“The family is very loving and close. There are four children, Phil, Robert, Caryn and Helen, and they had eight grandchildren.
“This is awful for all of the family, but they were together at the end and they were lovely people.
“They were on their way to the pub on a Friday afternoon in Kent, where they lived — they were in the place they loved, with the person they loved. They were both people of Christian faith.
“Phil and his siblings are all consoling each other at this difficult time.”
Another close pal described them as a “lovely family” who villagers were very fond of.
He said: “It’s very, very sad. It’s been an absolute shock.
“We’re a close-knit group around here. We all walk around the farm.”
Phil, who lives in Hampshire with wife Fiona and their two children, has previously spoken fondly of being a farmer’s son, and having an idyllic childhood.
He has a holiday cottage on the site, which his father ran before handing over to eldest son David.
A neighbour, who has lived in a cottage next to the farm for 20 years, saw the emergency services arriving and knew it was a major incident.
Fatal accident
The woman, who asked not to be named, said the fatal accident occurred by a small stone bridge which some locals considered dangerous.
She said: “There’s a stream, called the Nailbourne, which feeds into the River Stour, and there’s a very low, quite pretty little bridge that goes over it, with a lovely weeping willow.
“The postman was here when it was all going on and he was saying, ‘I hope it’s not happened near the bridge — it’s dangerous that bridge’.”
Another neighbour, who lives opposite the entrance, added: “I was gardening yesterday afternoon and I saw a helicopter going over.
“There’s a river which runs through the farm. I was told their car ended up in it. It’s very sad.”
An assistant in a local convenience store said: “It’s so sad. His parents and Phil shop here.”
Kent Police said they were called at 12.36pm to a report of a single- vehicle collision at Littlebourne.
A spokeswoman said: “Officers attended along with other emergency services and a man and woman in their 80s were taken to a local hospital where they were later pronounced deceased.
“A third person, a woman in her 60s, was in the vehicle and sustained minor injuries.
“The next of kin has been informed and a report will now be prepared for the coroner.”
Three fire engines and a water rescue unit spent two hours winching the vehicle from the river.
It remains unclear who was driving at the time of the accident.
Retired chief superintendent Simon Ovens, former head of the Met’s traffic and transport command, said: “The main role of the police now will be to ascertain how this incident happened.
“They will speak to any witnesses for an explanation of what occurred. They will also be looking if there was anything on the road at the time that might have made it happen, such as an animal or another vehicle.
“Investigators will also be looking at the vehicle itself to see whether there were any mechanical defects.
“Then they will be looking at the driver behind the wheel at the time to see whether the incident could have been caused by a medical episode or something like eyesight.
‘Human error’
“They will also consider whether it could have been caused by just straightforward human error.”
Phil reminisced about his childhood in an interview with Great British Life.
He said: “I was born there, a farmer’s son, and that’s where I spent my entire childhood and teenage years.
“Dad bought the house when he got married, and they’ve never moved out. My brother runs the farm now.
“Living on a farm with places to run around, have adventures and learn about nature helped us grow up with a sense of responsibility. It was a mixed farm, beef cattle, hops, watercress, potatoes, fruit and arable, which made it a lot of fun.
“Mum would take us out in the holidays to help with what was being harvested.
“There was always something in season so we were happy to get involved and be useful. I have lots of happy memories.
“My heart was always in Kent and always will be. I feel very comfortable there.”
The property expert also said his father was “dictatorial about safety” when shooting.
He told Shooting Gazette: “As a young lad that side of things was drilled into me from a great height.
“He was also passionate about nature and conservation.”
Phil, like his father and older brother, was sent to Uppingham, the top public school in Rutland whose other pupils include chef Rick Stein and actor Stephen Fry, who was expelled.
Phil was there at the same time as ex-Big Breakfast host Johnny Vaughan and was taught PE by Australian movie star Hugh Jackman, who worked there for a year.
He studied as a surveyor before setting up his own home-finding business, Garrington, in 1996.
This led to him being chosen as one of the co-hosts on Location, Location, Location, which began airing episodes in 2000.
This led to him being chosen as one of the co-hosts on hit Channel 4 property show Location, Location, Location, which hit screens in 2000.
Phil and Kirstie have since appeared in 39 seasons of the show and the popular spin-off series Relocation, Relocation, Relocation.
He has also written three books and hosted the Channel 4 daytime game show The Common Denominator in 2013.