‘Guildford Will Miss Him’ Says Shadow Foreign Secretary at Memorial Service for Bill Bellerby

Published on: 31 Oct, 2017
Updated on: 31 Oct, 2017

Bill Bellerby’s Memorial Service attracted a congregation of around 400.

Guildford said goodbye to its most loved citizen yesterday (October 30, 2017) with a memorial service attended by around 400 people at Holy Trinity Church in the High Street.

Hon Freeman Bill Bellerby, affectionately known as “Mr Guildford”, who celebrated his 100th birthday in March, died in September, two years after his beloved wife Doreen whose memorial service was held in the same church.

Bill Bellerby served 42 years as a councillor and twice as Mayor of Guildford. His public service was recognised not only by being made a Freeman of the Borough but with the award of an MBE.

He had left instructions that if there was to be a memorial service it should be very short. In truth, this was not completely obeyed, too many had good things to say about him.

Emily Thornberry: “Guildford will miss him, I will miss him.”

The Shadow Foreign Secretary, Emily Thornberry, who was brought up in Guildford, recalled how, when she and her mother were left homeless in Guildford, Bill had taken them under his wing and arranged a council house. She said: “He was a good man, a politician who knew how important it was to listen to his constituents… he was a good friend to many… Guildford will miss him, I will miss him.”

David Watts: ““He was certainly one of the best politicians I ever met and, much more importantly, one of the best human beings…”

And the former chief executive of Guildford Borough Councillor, David Watts, who knew Freeman Bellerby for 45 years, much of that time during their service together at the council, said: “He was certainly one of the best politicians I ever met and, much more importantly, one of the best human beings…

“He was full of common sense, something in short supply these days. He avoided personal digs at people, he always saw the good in everybody…. He had an unsurpassed record of service to Guildford and only last year was selling poppies at the Guildhall…. Guildford is a better place because of him.”

Bill’s nephew, Andrew Keener, spoke of his family life in Wales, his appreciation of the arts, his socialist values and his willpower, evidenced by his cycling to work every day to his job as a headmaster in Tolworth.

Bill Bellerby’s nephew, Andrew Keener (left) and his partner Peter Avis with Shirley West, a friend of Bill’s for 40 years.

Although Bill Bellerby was not a religious man the service included several stirring hymns including, Who would true valour see and appropriately, considering Bill’s Welsh roots, Bread of Heaven sung with gusto by the full congregation supported by the Vivace Chorus.

After the service all present were invited to join the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Michael More-Molyneaux, Anne Milton MP, the Mayor of Guildford, a dozen freemen and aldermen and a score of councillors, at a reception at G Live.

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