William 'Bill' Edward Willson (27 Jul 1933 - 30 Mar 2023)

In loving memory of William 'Bill' Edward Willson who sadly passed away on 30th March 2023

William Edward Willson - Dad, Grandad, Uncle, Friend, Optimistic Golfer .....Legend.

William Willson (known to us all as Bill or Billy Boy) was born in London to Edie and William on 27th July 1933. His early life was spent as a cheeky scamp playing around the streets of London with his sisters Lilian, June and Helen. During these early years, little Billy nurtured a love of Saturday morning cinema, watching classic Western films with cowboys in smoking gunfights, racing stage coaches being attacked with flaming arrows and the handsome lead riding into the sunset with the girl. This was a passion that never left him and he was often to be found watching an old black and white Randolph Scott film in the afternoon, cup of tea in hand and always with the words .."aahh, they don't make 'em like that anymore".

National Service swept up the 18 year old Bill from his beloved London and he was sent to work on tanks in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers or REME. "I was just a baby" he used to tell us. However, he did manage to pass his driving test there without any formal lessons, joking that he all he had to do was "drive up and down in a field to pass."

Bill found love on a holiday in Plemont, Jersey, meeting the girl of his dreams ... Jean. He was so determined to impress her, he boasted of being a large shareholder in the shoe company Stead and Simpson. Well, he probably owned a pair at one time! Jean fell for Bill's boyish charms (those were his words) and he told us it was like "Heathcliff meeting Cathy." This was a true love that lasted and grew over their lifetimes, and we know this continues to bond them both into eternity.

Bill and Jean married in 1958, settling in Boelyn Road in Dalston to begin their married life. Jeremy was born in 1962, and a move to a new build house within the spacious countryside of South Benfleet took place in 1964. Two girls, Sara and Caroline were born in 1966 and 1967.

...And there they stayed and we lived as the happiest of families, within a loving home that always had laughter and always had a song on the go.

As the children grew they too met and fell in love, and married their own special people, and Bill embraced Carolyn, Tony and Simon into the family. He loved spending his Sunday lunches with Carolyn and Jeremy, boasting that, "no-one makes a yorkshire pudding as good as that girl." He spent many, many happy hours feasting on good food and talking football. As a lifelong Gooner some match day afternoons were harder to watch than others and he was often heard ranting: "turn that rubbish off", convinced they were going to lose.

Ever the avid sport fan, Bill welcomed Simon with open arms because of his love for rugby and, well, Tony had a golden ticket to the family as he was an Arsenal supporter.

Bill and Jean spent many happy years travelling around the world, and there was always another travel brochure open as soon as one holiday ended.

But he was never happier than when strolling around a golf course, singing a song and missing his shots. Bill and Jean made lifelong friends at the Three Rivers Golf Club and it became his second home for many years.

Over the passing years grandchildren graced Bill's and Jean's lives. He was always the best grandad in the world, full of life with a sparkle in his eye and a laugh, joke and a song for James, Jonathan, Charlotte, Bill, Harry, and his special Max. Max's half-brothers Ollie and Ben were always part of his life and spent many happy holidays from Lapland to Barbados laughing and joking along with him. When the grandchildren grew and fell in love with their own partners, Bill held a special place for Elise and Kate too.

Jean passed away, too soon, in 2012 and Bill said "she will always be my girl" ... and she was, and always will be, for all time.
We know they are together again, dancing to Andy Williams, and smiling down at us all, saying "Didn't we do well".

To Bill ..... An Absolute One of a Kind. The Best.

Forever missed, but never, ever forgotten. We love you.

If you wish to make a donation we are raising money to support Prostate Cancer Uk

Please join us and raise a glass at The Three Rivers Golf club for a glorious and joyful celebration of a life well lived and a very special man.

Stow Road Cold Norton Purleigh Essex CM3 6RR, Cold Norton CM3 6RR

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