A year ago today was my Uncle Bill’s 97th birthday. He’d been unwell for a very long time, and had been bedridden in a home for over a year. The next day, the 4th, he passed away peacefully in his sleep. This is a little tribute to my dear Great Uncle Bill.

Although we first met when I was around 2, my first memory of you is from our first trip “down south” to visit you and your wonderful wife, Betty, in 1994. I was 10 years old and sure that it would just be a boring trip with my parents to see some old relatives. I couldn’t have been more wrong!

You and Betty were more fun and entertaining than I ever would have thought before we met. You told me about stories of when the two of you met in Africa, and of your travels all over the world. You always seemed to know what sort of tales to tell me to capture my attention, and had numerous keep-sakes from these wonderful places to show me and sometimes, if I was very lucky, you would give me one or two as gifts to take home with me. I still treasure these and I always will.

I couldn’t believe how quickly I loved you both so much, but I think I know why. The one thing that stood out above everything else was the way you valued MY opinions. You not only wanted to tell me about your lives and lessons, you wanted to hear about my life, my interests and my views on the world. I had never really had that from family other than my parents, and I grew tremendously as a person because of your enthusiasm for me.

Betty was such a gentle, kind natured soul. Oh and her laughter was infectious! I can still hear her giggling away and smiling at me as if it were yesterday. I wish it was yesterday. She passed away what will be 8 years ago this summer. R.I.P my lovely and loving Aunt Betty xx

Bill, well… you were one of those people who I couldn’t help but sit up straighter for, I wanted want to do well for. You were the person that would always make me think “oh I’d better not do that, what would Bill think??” when I was a teenager. You always had such a twinkle in your eye when you spoke, and oh the discussions we would have! The first conversation you had with J was about your thoughts on devolution in Scotland. That threw J for six, but he still managed a decent conversation on it, lol!

I can’t even put into words how I feel about you both. You have shaped who I am and who I aspire to be in so many ways. I love you both so much and hope that I do you proud. Not a day goes by that I don’t think fondly of you.

Rest in peace Bill xxx

Bill, my cousin Tom, and me in 1985.