Bill’s Funeral Service will be held entirely in
the Frank J Siebert Adelaide Chapel, 49 Wakefield Street, Adelaide,
on MONDAY, June 22, 2026, commencing at 3:00 p.m. Adelaide time.
(Monday, June 22, 2026, at 6:30 a.m. in the United Kingdom)
The Funeral Service will also be broadcast via livestream.
Please click on the link above to watch the livestream broadcast.
~~~
Formerly of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom.
Born in Birmingham, United Kingdom on December 4, 1936.
Passed away in Adelaide, South Australia, on June 11, 2026,
aged 89 years.
Beloved husband of the late Irene (née Yates) for 52 years.
Dearly loved father of Roger (deceased) and Tony.
Grandfather of Hollie and Kieron and their families.
Will be remembered fondly by his relatives and friends
in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Always in our hearts
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Neta and I are very sorry that we cannot be with you today to both mourn Bill and celebrate his life. We shall be present via the video. We were very pleased that we were able to make a short visit to Adelaide in April and managed to visit Bill several times. We shall miss our very enjoyable Saturday chats via Teams. Goodbye Bill, Rest in Peace, love from Mike and Neta
This is from Steve Walkinshaw in the UK. I have known Bill for more than 40 years; frankly, I’m not exactly sure how long, it just feels like he’s been present in my life for as long as I can remember. Bill recruited me to his company to manage the engineering team; this is the group that produces drawings and designs for the machinery we sold. We got on well straight away. While Bill was still working, we shared many trips to see customers, but if there was an enquiry from Scotland, Bill would take it on, and usually ask me to accompany him. By this method, I learned about Rogano’s oyster bar in the centre of Glasgow, the champagne bar at Glasgow Station and Lockerbie Haggis; which can be improved dramatically by cutting it open and adding a dram. After he retired, we started having “a nice little lunch” when the opportunity arose. He often said that it was good to have someone to talk to who understood engineering and technology. Bill did of course have some great sadness. Some of those lunches were when Bill was visiting Irene in hospital; a lunch near the hospital hopefully provided a welcome distraction. We had arranged to see the wonderful guitar virtuoso Tommy Emmanuel in Sheffield City Hall with Roger. Roger tragically died three days before the concert. Bill developed a sense of mischievousness. I’d get a message – can you book next Thursday off work? Then I’d get a phone call on Wednesday – Doncaster Station – 9am – be there. Click and he’s disconnected. So, I did as asked, boarded the train and found Bill and his friend Jim Robson, off we went on the train for a nice little lunch. I was at work when the phone rang. “Hello Steve, are you busy? I’m in the Exchange Square in Glasgow. It’s snowing, there is a choir singing carols outside the window. I’m just finished lunch and a rather nice bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. Just thought you’d like to know". Click. There’s a glass artwork in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens called Cascade. He was explaining the details of it, when it was installed, who designed it, what it represented to an unsuspecting young couple. When he had finished, they said – that’s interesting. Bill said yes, I just read it here, and stepped off the dedication plate he’s been standing on. Of course, there were other memorable occasions I remember one that included the exchange, “How much whisky shall I put in this Bill?" - "Oh, just a forkful, I’ll look after the rest”. Another very important part of Bill’s life was music. I heard Irene play the piano only once, which was a delight. Bill played in bands in his earlier years before I knew him. However, after he retired, he teamed up with Wendy Kirkland to play in some of the bars around Sheffield, sometimes, if it wasn’t a working day, I was able to join the audience. Together, they helped turn Trippets bar into a thriving venue. One time, I remember meeting him at his flat in Largs. By now, he was in his mid 70’s. He’d been to a guitar festival and had been camping - don’t tell Irene he insisted - she’d take a dim view of me spending the night in a field. Bill was very generous to me and later when I visited Adelaide with my wife Helen. I enjoyed every minute in his company, it is so sad to see this chapter close. I am so thankful to have known Bill. I am also thankful to the new circle of friends he made in Adelaide who made his last years so fulfilling. Thank you.
Meeting my grandfather for the first time had such a profound and positive impact on my life. I will always cherish the memories we made and the time we shared together. He was an amazing, kind, and thoughtful man who was a true inspiration to me. From the moment we met, he made me feel welcomed, accepted and loved, and I will always be grateful for that. I wish his two great-grandsons had the opportunity to meet him, but they will grow up hearing stories about their Great-Grandfather Bill and knowing what a remarkable person he was. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.
Arlene and I have fond memories of the time we spent with you on Fridays enjoying a late lunch at The Dore Moor Inn. You threw yourself into your new life in Australia and made many friends. Cheers Bill. RIP. XX
Thinking of you and your family as you celebrate the life of Uncle Bill. Andrew, Pathana, May and Alice
Sending love and prayers as you honour Bill's life. Fond memories of growing up with him and all the fun we had. Lynda
Uncle Bill, you were such great company and your love of great food and wine is where we connected. I remember my 18th birthday tea at The Ritz, and the meal at the famous Nardini’s in Largs. When I worked in London, and you realised my office was in the same street as The Nags Head, I would get a call to say, "Meet me in an hour for one". You were so easy to chat to and I did love seeing you. You were a such a support in the early days of Lynda’s stroke. You were a lovely brother and your support for each other was lovely to see. I so appreciated the advice and your visits. I’m so pleased you had the energy to make the journey and relocate and spend time in Adelaide with Tony. I will be thinking of you today and I know you will approve of my current location on a boat in the Greek islands. Rest in peace.
Kieron -
Although I met my Grandfather Bill later in life, he left a lasting impression on me. His enthusiasm for life was infectious and I genuinely cherished the time I had getting to know him. I enjoyed the little things, like how we would end up in Nando’s when discussing where to eat, which I suspected wouldn't have been his first choice. A sign of the true gent he was. I also remember him showing me designs for a boat, which reflected his creativity and intelligence. Even though our time together was limited, I’m grateful for those moments, and I only wish we'd been able to spend more of them together.