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.
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.”
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.
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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Contact: Martin Giles mgilesdragon@gmail.com
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Sue Fox
October 31, 2017 at 11:50 am
Really nice report of the service, where people were invited to leave their memories of Bill for inclusion in a book of remembrance on sheets of paper not evident.
Can I suggest that the wonderful tributes sent to you are forwarded to GBC for inclusion? Some of those who commented could not be present because of other commitments.
Editor’s note: A spokesperson for GBC said: “The team that was responsible for organising the memorial service yesterday have confirmed that provision was made at the church for attendees to leave messages of condolence.”
The council have agreed to include the comments sent to The Guildford Dragon NEWS and they have now been forwarded. Thank you for the suggestion.