Donate to help raise funds for “Bill’s Bench”

Hi, my name is Lou & I’m here along with my husband Si & my daughter Maddie to help raise funds for a community bench in our local park (Selly Oak Park) in Birmingham, in memory of our dear friend William (Bill).

Sadly on the 2nd Feb 2024 we had to say goodbye to Bill after losing his battle with cancer. Bill was born in 1949 at home, a street away from Selly Oak Park, Bill loved the park & walked through the park as soon as he learned to walk until a year before he passed so it would total around 70/71 years. I actually met Bill when I moved to Birmingham from London when Maddie had just been born, I was walking my dogs through the park with Maddie attached to me in her sling & our chance meeting would cement our relationship, never at the time did I think we would become so close nor did I think we would care for him through Covid or through his cancer diagnosis or for him to consider us family! But it just worked out that way & we very grateful to have the time we did. I started Dog Walking/Pet Minding business in 2006 and Bill started to walk with me through the park, he just loved the dogs (he remembered all of them through the years). At first it would just be a chance meeting as he walked through to get his daily shopping, but after a few weeks he joined me everyday day, he would wait for my van to arrive at 10.15am and would walk around the park but it was only a matter of weeks before he wanted to work for me, he turned up without fail, shopping bag in hand and the biggest smile, during this time this would be his most happiest of times & hold the most fondest of memories.

Bill was so intelligent, he was able to retain so much knowledge pretty much about anything but especially about History, that was his passion (he definitely would have been my phone a friend)! Bill managed to secure a scholarship and graduated Oxford University but sadly due to his mental heath he returned home to Birmingham and this is where he stayed until he was admitted to hospital just after Covid.

Bill didn’t want a funeral, truth be told I think it was because he thought no one would come, so he chose a “Simple Cremation “ whilst respecting his wishes, we have honoured this, but I’ve arranged a Remembrance Tea-Party at the Care Home where Bill lived & classed as home, so his friends, loved ones and staff can remember the incredible person Bill was, if he only knew how many friends and loved ones were coming!

Therefore, as the park meant so much to Bill, we all feel having a memorial bench in honour of Bill would be the most perfect way to celebrate an incredible man and where his friends can gather and sit on a daily basis in the most wonderful park.

All monies raised will be put back into Selly Oak Park. Thank you for reading and considering donating!