He started work as a clerk with Glasgow Corporation Housing and Works in 1951 after passing his Higher Leaving Certificate with three Highers and two Lowers.

He was offered a Civil Engineering apprenticeship in 1953, but was called up for National Service before taking it up.

He was demobbed from the Royal Artillery in 1955, having reached the rank of Bombardier and took up a Heating and Ventilating Engineer apprenticeship for the Department of Architecture and Related Services (DARS) at Glasgow Corporation.

He met his future wife Morag Mackellar at the Vet School Dance in Glasgow in 1961 — they went out twice and became engaged the next year after meeting again in 1962.

They married on March 7, 1964, and set up home in Kirkintilloch before they moved to Kilbarchan in 1967 after Bill moved jobs to Renfrew County Council DARS.

During the interview he was asked how he would cope with travel to Paisley every day and informed the interview panel that he was looking for a house in the Renfrewshire area to be nearer to Morag’s family who stayed in Greenock.

The purchase of the house in Kilbarchan followed shortly after he was told he had got the job.

He was appointed to the post of Principal Engineer in the new Strathclyde Regional Council in 1975 and moved house again to a family house in Bridge of Weir.

Throughout his working career, Bill was a member of NALGO (now Unison), holding various offices including treasurer and chairman for the local division.

Shortly after moving to the village he was elected to Bridge of Weir Community Council — where he served in various posts including Chairman and Secretary until 1992.

During this time he was instrumental in the setting up of both Bridge of Weir Gala Week (now Bridge of Weir Festival Week) and Gryffe Valley Brass Band, which he joined as E flat bass player despite having never played.

He taught himself with a few pointers from daughter Laura and band conductor Alex Williams.

He played with the band including tours to Cornwall and the Netherlands until it was disbanded in 2005.

He then joined the Stedfast Silver Band in Greenock and continued to play with them until he became too ill in 2015.

He had retired from work in 1992 at the age of 57, but became the Bridge of Weir Correspondent for The Gazette in 1993 — a role he thoroughly enjoyed before handing the reins to daughter Laura at the end of May 2015 when he felt he was too ill to continue giving it his best.

His retirement gave him and Morag the opportunity to take frequent holidays abroad and to their beloved Isle of Arran.

Throughout his life he was a keen birdwatcher (an interest that was piqued when he saw a poster showing different species during his evacuation to Tipperty in Aberdeenshire during the war) along with brothers Gilbert, Archie and Jim.

It was an interest which continued right up to and including his last days at St Vincent’s Hospice.

As a young man he enjoyed playing football at an amateur level, but had to give up due to a knee injury in his 30s.

He played golf, first at Cochrane Castle Golf Club and then at Old Ranfurly Golf Club — describing himself as a hacker.

He and Morag celebrated their Golden Wedding in 2014 surrounded by many family and friends.

He is survived by wife Morag, children Ewan, Laura and Julie, son in law Alan and five grandchildren.

His family were at his bedside at St Vincent’s Hospice when he passed away peacefully on October 19, 2015.

The family would like to extend their thanks to all the hospice staff for their exceptional care during his illness, and to everyone who has expressed their sympathy with kind words, visits and attendance at the funeral.

LB.