Bill first came to Slapstick in 2010, when he received the Slapstick Award for Visual Comedy alongside his fellow Goodies, Graeme Garden and Tim Brooke-Taylor. He subsequently became a patron of Slapstick and, much more importantly, a great friend to the festival.
Bill was an extraordinarily generous supporter, returning to Bristol year after year and appearing at Slapstick on more than 20 occasions. One particularly treasured memory is our celebration of 50 years of The Goodies in 2020, just before the pandemic, which proved to be the final time Bill, Graeme and Tim appeared together on stage.
Bill understood profoundly the importance of laughter. Having spoken openly about his own experiences of depression, and knowing the challenges faced by members of my own family, he understood only too well the therapeutic value of comedy, its extraordinary ability to bring people together and to offer light during difficult times. That belief was part of what made his support for Slapstick so heartfelt.
He was a passionate advocate for the great comedians of the silent era and a true champion of the comedy he loved. Of course, Bill was himself an enormously important figure in the history of British visual and physical comedy. His extraordinary work with The Goodies, his music and humour, and the warmth and enthusiasm he brought to everything he cared about including his lifelong love of nature and wildlife — made him a very special person.
I was fortunate to spend many happy hours with Bill at his Hampstead home, talking about comedy and dreaming up ideas for future festivals. Those conversations, and the many wonderful times we shared with him at Slapstick, are memories I will treasure.
Bill will be sorely missed by all of us at Slapstick. My thoughts are with his family and everyone who was close to him at this time
Chris Daniels
Director, Slapstick Festival