Our character for the Month of February is Mr. Phillip Neville, known local as the man in shorts and sandals! Mr. Neville was born in Shoreham-by-sea, Sussex on the 13th November 1951.

He currently lives with his partner Ann in Argaka. Mr. Neville has two sons, Tom and Nathan, and one daughter, Fiona. His two sons live in Cyprus and work for Latchi Watersports and his daughter lives in Newcastle, UK. Mr. Neville started farming at the age of 13; he left school at 15 and continued to work with animals up until he was 17. He soon realized he couldn’t raise the money to buy his own land and so went into the Building trade. 12 months later he realized that working for others was not the way to go and then opened up his first business. Mr. Neville has had businesses in the Channel Islands, England and now here in Cyprus. Mr. Neville’s first holiday to Cyprus is what caused him to move here. He loved the fact that in February, it was 27 degrees on Paphos beach and yet they were packing down the snow for the start of the Ski season on Troodos Mountains. The thought of snow whilst he was in shorts and sandals was too much! Mr. Neville moved to Cyprus in 2002.

Mr. Neville’s portfolio of businesses contains Polis and Latchi Magazine, UK Sitefinders, The Boat Yard and The Open Air Market. He and his Partner, Marios, started the Magazine three and a half years ago with the sole purpose of encouraging tourists to visit our lovely area. Mr. Neville believes that many tourists and locals often neglect the “jewel” of the crown. He is very proud to live in our area and is especially fond of his home in Argaka as he says when the sun sets its disappears into his pool!

Mr. Neville has had two shops but now has settled into offices above the Alpha bank in Polis. He also has the Boat Yard in Chrysochous village which now is being used for the Open Air Market, the first venture of its kind in our area that caters for both adults and children. The boat yard will be open again for storage in the winter months.