If you're reading this page the chances are that you knew Bill and will also know that he died, very peacefully and with great dignity, on 18 December 2010.
And if you knew him you will also know what a lovely man he was. We have had so many messages in the days since he died and the same words come up time and time again - "a real gentleman"; "generous, kind, gentle and compassionate"; "quietly spoken, kind, understanding, and with an awareness of what it was like to be twenty years old having never met a judge before"; "always quietly dependable and supportive, never pulling rank"; "... as Head of Chambers for a long time, always holding the strings and diffusing tensions".
Perhaps no-one has summed it up more appropriately than this (with thanks to Mike R for such lovely words) :
"I have never met anyone, anyone at all, who has had such a positive influence on me. In how he went about his profession, what he believed in his politics and, perhaps above all, his kind, gentle manner I can hope to do no more than try and emulate him in some small way. As I go through my life I am going to try and keep his memory and his example in the front of my mind.
His was a life extraordinarily well lived and I will miss him hugely but feel privileged to have known him."
You may also know that over the years Bill had some very extensive treatments at Broadgreen Heart and Chest Unit (previously known as the Broadgreen Cardiothoracic Unit) in Liverpool, which prolonged his life and meant he was with us all for far longer than he otherwise would have been.
He, and we, have always been immensely grateful to the staff - medical, nursing and research - at Broadgreen. He consistently had the very best of care there, and their amazing research unit developed many of the procedures which helped him live to the age of 83.
So, when we were reminded that, in the depths of our sadness we should remember to celebrate his being and his life, we knew that the Broadgreen "Tree of Life" appeal was exactly right.
Here's how it works.
Any money, no matter how small an amount, you kindly donate here will go directly to helping Broadgreen carry on providing not only the best treatment and care, but the research which we know will develop even more amazing procedures and will impact on the lives of the generations after dad - his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, all their children, and all the generations that follow them.
And as what we think is a fitting tribute to him, we will buy a memorial "leaf" in his name on the hospital's Tree of Life, so that he will be forever present, and a continuing inspiration to others.
If you want to see what the tree looks like, follow this link to the 'Tree of Life' page : #mce_temp_url# .
He would be so proud to hear all that people say about him, and so proud to contribute to this appeal. We think that's a fitting tribute to a lovely man. We hope you think so too.
With our thanks to all of you who have provided us with such care, support and love over the last few hard days.
