I received an email from Philip some time ago during one of my exchanges regarding advice on the weather. He was well then but was recovering from illness. Perhaps the bean counters have targeted his column now? The DT seem to have sacked many of their journalists and, if a report that I read a few weeks ago is anything to go by, are using straight out uni graduates to write up 'reports' on weather-related issues.
He is still at the observatory in Dunstable and is amenable to visits to the library there. Try emailing him