Obituary: Fiona Philipson, Bridges Project Founder

Born: 15 March 1942
Died: 07 August 2025, aged 83 

Fiona Morham Philipson, 83, passed away peacefully in her sleep on 7th August 2025, after a short illness, which she confronted with great courage and dignity.

Born on 15th March 1942, in Edinburgh to Victoria and Dennis Philipson, Fiona grew up in Manchester with her brother, Alastair, and late sister, Alison, before attending Keele University. From an early age, she demonstrated a fierce commitment to fairness, equality, and care for others, values that would define her life’s work.

Her dedication to social care and tackling homelessness led her to become a driving force in the sector. Beginning her career as a teacher in Edinburgh, she went on to work with Women’s Aid, Edinburgh Council for the Single Homeless and established Stopover, always championing those whose voices were too often unheard. In the 1980s, she founded the Bridges Project, Scotland’s first young adults support network - an initiative that has provided vital care, guidance, and opportunity to teenagers during their most vulnerable years and is still running today. A political force as well as a social pioneer, Fiona appeared in the ITV’sWorld in Action in the 1980s to campaign passionately for more social care and housing. 

When Fiona retired, she moved to the Scottish Borders, dedicating herself to creating a beautiful home and garden. Beyond her professional achievements, Fiona loved walking her dog through the border’s countryside. literature, politics, gardening and antiques, sharing these passions generously with her family and friends. She was the backbone of her family: a wise advisor on all matters of social justice, books, and art; a strong and devoted mother to Max and mother-in-law to Donna; and a proud, devoted granny to Freya and Fergus.

Much loved and deeply respected by many, Fiona’s legacy lives on in the causes she championed, the lives she changed, and the family she cherished. She will be profoundly missed.

A reception will be held from 1 pm on Saturday, 20 September, at Ednam House, Bridge Street, Kelso, Roxburghshire, TD5 7HT.

Donna and Max Philipson