Born in a small mining village in Northumberland, Bill started work with the local co-operative society at the age of 16, and after many years of dedication, he became their CEO in 1984. After a chance meeting with Terry Waite on the train to Manchester, he was enthused by the concept of Emmaus and decided to form the first group in Suffolk.
Bill led its official launch in 2009 but it was clear then he was not in good health. He eventually felt it necessary to resign from being chair but continued to keep in touch via email and the occasional visit. His lasting legacy will be an Emmaus community opening in Ipswich in the next year or so – the sadness is that he did not live to see it.