Edwards was born on 7 February 1923 in
Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire, England. Having passed the entrance exam,was educated at
King Edward's School, an
independent school in Birmingham. Aged 16, he passed all but the arithmetic examination of the
School Certificate. His father, who has won the
Military Cross in the First World War and then worked an
agent for the
Conservative Party, had expected him to leave school and "become a useful citizen". However, Philip convinced his father to allow him to continue his education, first in
sixth form and then, at only 16 and half, at the
University of Birmingham. Among his
lecturers were
A. M. D. Hughes and
Helen Gardner. He was promoted to
temporary acting sub-lieutenant to temporary
sub-lieutenant with seniority in that rank from 13 February 1944. but his unusual qualification has been pushed through by the registrar of the University of Birmingham who was a family friend. ==Selected works==