Phillip King became professor of sculpture at the Royal College of Art, London, in 1980, succeeding Bernard Meadows. Jocelyn Stevens took over as rector of the RCA in 1984. He was volcanic and impetuous, whereas Phillip was easy-going and thoughtful – predictably, they did not get on.
At a senate meeting in 1990, Stevens in the chair was at full throttle, shouting at one of the other professors for something or other and slamming his big black notebook on to the table – a sure sign that he was about to explode.
Phillip stood up mid-flow, said: “I don’t want to play this game any more” (I was sitting next to him at the time), and walked out of the room. Stevens barked: “And where do you think you’re going?”
Phillip didn’t even turn round. He knew exactly where he was going – back to his studio and his practice as a sculptor. He never attended another meeting at the RCA and resigned shortly afterwards. His noble exit-line soon became college folklore. As well as being a great sculptor, Phillip was a man of integrity and courage.
