The great thing about Philip was that he never gave up. He had a terrier-like tenaciousness when it came to campaigning for causes in which he believed. I have letters from him about the state of regional theatre (in which he included the Theatre Royal), about the misuse of lottery funding, about theatre's ability to make a global impact by addressing local issues and about the need to monitor the Labour party when in power. But, while Philip was a born fighter and a tireless letter-writer, he was also a very likeable person. He inherited the mantle of Joan Littlewood and did everything possible to turn her vision of a popular theatre into a reality. Whenever I met him at a Stratford first night, he had a smile on his face and took obvious delight in welcoming an audience that reflected the rich diversity of the local community. It is for that, along with his crusading spirit, that he should be remembered.

Michael Billington, Guardian arts journalist

He championed black and Asian writers, directors and actors; commissioned new plays on care homes, library closures, curriculum shrinking in schools (particularly in the arts); and nurtured a string of talented names as associate and assistant directors … Throughout his regime, Hedley, who had been both an Arts Council panellist and chairman of the board at Stratford East before taking over as director, remained an outspoken, impassioned campaigner against Arts Council cuts (“Always bite the hand that feeds you,” was his advice to directors and administrators) and disguised forms of censorship, maintaining a tireless presence in schools and social centres in Newham … The engagement of the Stratford audience, from the time of Littlewood right through to the present artistic directorship of Nadia Fall, has grown exponentially as the theatre has increased its involvement with the community on its doorstep. Hedley had a profound understanding of this. The spirit of the place is magical and indelible … Hedley flew, but not that easily. Keeping Stratford going was always a struggle, but he never stinted on his heroic, ultimately rewarding effort.

Michael Coveney, Guardian