Bill's family business was an Ironmongers, in Hastings. I knew his sister, and also met his Dad a few times, because I was a regular visitor to his shop near The Memorial.
He used to sell everything from a single brass screw to a lawnmower. I used to buy all my Meccano from there when I was much younger, because he had a board up on the wall, which displayed all the parts you could buy! And he stocked them too!
Bill also had a shop in our village, Hawkhurst. I saw him there occasionally, and it was run with the utmost efficiency by Peter and Sheila, who managed the business for Bill. I spent a fortune there over the years!
Bill sadly died of cancer a few years ago, but I can still see him belting his pipe into huge wreaths of smoke, and laughing all the time! We had a chance to meet up in a very expensive bar in London a few years ago (Sorry chaps, it was a bit pricey, and not what we really wanted, I know), and Bill was there, and he had been to see his Doctor.
The next half-hour was spent listening to how the various tests were made, with lots of long needles being inserted everywhere, and how it damn well hurt etc., but, to tell you the truth, I'd like to listen to all that again now, as he was really a great character.