Freddy and Rozie Kelly are very sad to inform you that, on April 27th, our lovely dad, Bill, died after a short stay in hospital.
Please join us to honour his memory by leaving reflections and memories on this website. We are really keen for this to be a happy, celebratory space, so any funny or silly memories you have of Bill’s shenanigans would be wonderful.
We would love it if people could also email any photos they may have to pictures@wfmkelly.co.uk and pass on these details to all those who knew Dad. When current restrictions are lifted, we will throw a proper celebration of Bill’s life with you all and many drinks will be raised in his memory, but, for the moment, this will help a lot. We are hoping this can be a place for us to become connected with those he has made smile from all corners of his life. Thank you.
53 entries.
Good morning all,
I am deeply sad. I just learned of the death of Bill, a distant friend, a fellow worker. We have met several times in the course of our work in England and the United States. For the simple pleasure, he had come to join me to spend a weekend in Rome with me in 2009. He was generous with his time. I particularly appreciated his great humanity and his very British sense of humor. Yes, we lived far from each other, so I missed you, I will miss you even more ...
René LeBel, Founder of Calabrio
I will never forget sleepovers at Rose Cottage with Rozie. Bill picking us up from Leamington in his BMW and cracking some terrible dad jokes on the journey! To this day the smell of fine cigars always reminds me of Bill. Another particularly fond memory is when Bill pulled over in Leamington to say hello to me - I had to point out that he was driving the wrong way down a one way street (later that day Rozie confirmed that this was in fact usual behaviour for her dad!)
Firstly my condolences to Bill's family.
I had the great pleasure of working with Bill during his Spanlink days. Happy times and great learning experiences from a super leader. My outstanding memory was fine dining on a train between Geneva and Bernn when we were off to meet a partner. Bills love of the finer things in life, fast cars, and red wine, in particular, left a lasting blueprint on me. You are sadly missed Bill.
I particularly remember one "Kick-Off" meeting when I was working for Prime Computer along with Bill and Mary some time in the 1980s. Everyone had had more to drink than they should and the whole meeting was collapsing in laughter - and guess who was at the centre of it - yes, it was Bill. I don't remember much else about the meeting except that it was somewhere in Scotland and we all travelled there on a private train. Those were the days!
When we both worked at Prime Computer in the '80s, I was passing Bill's desk one day when he was talking to a customer who seemed to have a lot to say. Bill looked at me, feigned a yawn, opened the top desk drawer and put the phone in there for a few seconds. Then he took it out a resumed the conversation as if nothing had happened.
The Story of Moules
Bill asks see me to help host a large dinner with a global drinks manufacture in Brussels . Bills choice was one of the cities most famous Moules restaurants. I mentioned to Bill before we met the customers that I did not like Moules and whilst I was a but surprised at his response, I trusted Bill implicitly with matters of customer management.
That evening at the Reaturant lashings of shelled sea creatures were served and I looked over to Bill to see him tucking into a nice steak.
After dinner I questioned Bill about his comments earlier in the evening that we should eat the same as the customer . To which he looked at me and smiled “well one of us had to eat Moules and I am not keen on them either”. I enjoyed those months back and forth to Brussels with Bill, lovely man and he put a smile on my face
Bill and I never met in person, but we became online friends, and exchanged jokes on FB. And he was always joking! RIP Bill.
Bill was an intelligent, humorous and charming gentleman and Uncle to me, as will be remembered as such. I have fond memories of being the bridesmaid at Mary & Bill's wedding in 1985 along with my two brothers Tom and Mike (there was a VHS video tape of this existed at some point).
I also have fond memories of spending one of the summer holidays (in my early teens) at Rose Cottage where Mary & Bill once lived, when Freddy and Rozie were still quite young. Bill had a home office and I think this must have been the first time I ever saw someone touch type on a computer! (yes, I am that old)
I worked for Bill and with Bill about 20 years ago at a company called Lucent Techonologies. It was "the golden time" for our industry and everything seemed easy. Everyone looks like superwomen or super men and super managers. It didn't last long though!... Unfortunately.... Or fortunately!
I wonder if because everything was easy, but in those years, we in Bill's team, we achieved great results, which are still milestones, thanks to hard work and brilliant minds. We also had a lot of fun. Bill had the great and rare gift of being able to manage the balance of being a boss, charismatic and authoritative, and a friend at the same time. I kept Bill in my heart for the rest of the years. One of the few people outside of my closest affections. Because he was a good manager and a good person. I've talked so many times about Bill with my son, that he became a person known to him as well. Today he shares my sadness with me. Then a few years ago I found out that he was also a proud father, when I met his son Freddy. And since then I often talk to my son about Freddy too. And I hope that we can continue to keep in touch and remember a great man who was his father. With the utmost respect for Freddy right now... May your last path be as bright as your smile, Bill. RIP.
Bill used to keep toffees in the glove pocket of the car so that he could offer me one if I started to sing!
Uncle Bill used to come round for Christmas when i was little and i always looked forward to seeing him!! I remember getting a hula hoop one year for Christmas, and spending an hour in my garden with Bill because he was teaching me how to throw it and make it come back to me. He also taught me to play songs on my keyboard. He always made me laugh- even when i shouldn’t have been laughing!- and i will miss him a lot.
Although I only met Bill once, it was a sunny day filled with cheeky smiles and wind ups filled with love. He got old pictures of Fred and Roze out as soon as he had the chance, beaming as he told stories of how lovely they were and are. He was a twinkly man who celebrated the silly with a true twinkle in his eye. This is what I will remember. See you again one day Bill!
Bill bought me my first ever glass of wine when I was living with the Kelly’s in the late 90s/early 2000s. I credit him with starting my lifelong love affair with a fine (or not so fine) glass of wine. He will be greatly missed.