Obit: Bill Churchyard - Suffolk Singer.

Subject: Obit: Bill Churchyard - Suffolk Singer.
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 07 Nov 07 - 03:24 PM

Before his funeral, I didn't know much about Bill, not even his surname, though he'd told us that he was 91 years old, and that he'd been a floor singer in the 'Eel's Foot' since before the war. In the pub, people often called him 'Sweet William', because he was; he'd be called on to sing one of his (and our) favourites, which might be 'Flash Company', 'The Faithful Sailor Boy' or 'The Old Rustic Mill By The Stream', and laughed as much as anyone when the call went out for 'Best of order, please, singer's on his feet, and he might not be for long!'. It was at his request that last year's group photo of musicians was taken, which can now be seen on the wall of the bar.

In the church, we heard a bit more - he was born in 1916, the eleventh of fourteen children, and became a horseman as soon as he was able, until he was required to work in a brickyard in WWII. he was married for 65 years and was a beekeeper for over 50 years. The pews were packed, with a good contingent from the 'Eel's Foot', and in the pub later glasses were raised to his memory as the music began.

We have lost Hubie Freeman and Tony Harvey lately from our local scene, and the passing of Bill is a sad reminder that our link with the past is a fragile one. We'll miss him.