I turned it from something honking, mostly matt black, into something pretty stylish. I’ve just painted my narrow boat and the sense of pride and achievement I have is incredible. I’ve never painted anything since I was at school, and I think that I have a little garden, too, included with the mooring. It’s got one bedroom with a super king-size bed, a bathroom with a shower, and a walk-in wardrobe, then there’s a lovely kitchen, a lounge area and a little fireplace. Rather than aspiring to buy a mansion I’m happy with what I’ve got. I don’t need material goods or watch television much. I only need enough space to make my dinner. Now at least, I’ve always got somewhere to live and can work out what to do next. We had two choices: watch the savings go down the pan in rent, or buy something. Was nothing I could do but live off my savings. I can go anywhere with my home, too.ĭuring the pandemic I realised I needed my own place.
It was like that at school and then in the children’s homes.īuying has taught me that you can be happy without having a lot. It’s sad, but it wasn’t very inspirational.
Plus being brought up in children’s homes I never thought I’d have my own place.īecause of the treatment I had growing up I was told everything was out of reach and I accepted what I got. When I was in the Army you were always billeted so I never thought of buying my own home. It was so nice to buy somewhere of my own. How does it feel finally to own your home? Phil Campion, 51, has gone from an upbringing in children’s homes, to the Army and SAS, then guarding the likes of Dizzee Rascal and Oasis to filming a documentary in Syria for Sky and Sky Atlantic.īut the one thing ‘Big Phil’ had yet to achieve was buying a home of his own – until this year when he bought his very own narrow boat.