HOLMES, Colonel Philip (Pip) Despard Pemberton, DFC, CD, AdeC
It was in the early hours of Friday, May 18, that Philip Despard Pemberton Holmes, 83, “slipped the surly bonds of earth…and danced the skies…where never lark or eagle flew…and touched the face of God.”
Known to all as “Pip ” he was born February 2, 1924, the son of Major Cuthbert Holmes and Philippa Despard Pemberton. Educated at Brentwood College School he joined the RCAF at the age of 17 and flew 33 WW2 missions with 433 Squadron, No 6 Group Bomber Command out of Skipton-on-Swale, Yorkshire, England. He left the service with the rank of Squadron Leader, Flight Commander, and a proud holder of the Distinguished Flying Cross and other battle awards.
It was a matter of pride and air force legend that Squadron Leader Holmes always completed his missions — and always brought his aircraft and crew home safely.
After the war he joined the pioneer real estate and property management firm of Pemberton, Holmes Limited, founded by his great grandfather, Joseph Despard Pemberton in 1887. From 1965 to 1988 he was President of the company and also President of Fort Mortgage and Pemberton and Son. He retired from business, sold the operating company of Pemberton, Holmes but retained the Presidency of Pemberton and Son. Throughout and beyond his professional life he demanded “corporate and personal citizenship must be our battle cry.” And he lived up to the high standards set for himself and those who worked with him.
He served on many professional associations involved in real estate and from 1967 to 1982 was a director of the International Real Estate Federation.
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