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Everybody who knew "Bill" would say what a character he
was. He loved nothing more than good long chat and he would often
regale you with tales of his younger days in and out of the army.
His life was full of events both happy and sad but you would only
hear of the good or funny times (often several times!) I am sure he
saw some awful things in his war years but he kept them to himself.
Bill was born in Birmingham son of James and Sarah nee Falconer .He
had two sisters and two brothers one of which was a very fine jeweller.
Sadly his father an Irishman from Co Mayo was gassed in the First
World War and died in his early fifties.
Bill was in the Royal Engineers and fought in Africa France and Italy,
he was at Monte Casino and often spoke of his time there.
After the war Bill was to ride for Cradley Heath speedway team but
his mum wanted him to have a "proper job". His passion in
life was motorbikes and he bore the scars to prove it, in fact one
"tumble" nearly cost him his life before he joined up.
Bills working life was varied, as a lad he worked for a butcher who
had his own slaughterhouse. Then later he worked for Dunlop and was
also a painter and decorator for some time. He worked for a DIY firm
for a good many years, he was promoted to manager and was transferred
to the Banbury branch where he continued until his retirement. With
his promotion Bill and Dolly (his wife) moved to Helmdon in the early
1980s and went to live at Cedar Bungalow which at the time was owned
by Captain and Mrs Lees. They became firm friends as Bill often helped
them out in a crisis and did odd jobs if needed.
A dry sense of humour is another thing Bill will be remembered for
as his good friend Mick McGrath will vouch for. Often people having
a cuppa in the drop in centre at the Post Office sessions didn't quite
know if he were joking or not. Sadly ill health kept him away from
these get togethers and also from the lunch club which he liked attending.
After this he didn't get out much but he had marvellous neighbours
in the Gidmans who lived next door. Sue was wonderful cooking meals
and making sure all was well with Bill and if not, making it so.
Just before Christmas Bill was taken into Brackley Cottage Hospital
with yet another chest infection,he wasn't expected to recover but
being the battler he was, he did, not just once but several times.
Sadly in the end although his heart was strong his lungs were too
badly damaged to cope anymore. In his last weeks he became very confused
at times and he was not aware that his friend's wife, Eileen McGrath,
or Sue Gidman his loyal neighbour, had both passed away before him.
Bill leaves behind a daughter Geraldine and son in law David, four
grandchildren and one great grandchild who all live in Coventry. Nellie
his elderly dog who went everywhere with him is being cared for by
Geraldine. Bill was cremated at Coventry and his ashes were buried
with his beloved Dolly whose death he never really recovered from.
Several friends from Helmdon attended the cremation on the 14 June
and I know he is and will be sadly missed.
Cath Houghton |