My abiding memory of Bill is as one of life's gentlemen, always courteous, affable and willing to help others. He welcomed me into enforcement in 1992 (without having the least idea who this rookie was) and made it clear that though there was a job to be done, we should also ensure that we enjoyed ourselves. Thereafter I seemed to bump into him regularly on railway stations, in trains and at restaurants and hotels and he proceeded to put into practice this creed of conviviality, very often over a glass ... or three(!) of wine. His company was always warm, welcoming, inclusive and very, very enjoyable. He had a mischievous sense of humour, betrayed by the glint in his eye which invariably presaged an appropriate joke or comment, and a quick and perceptive wit. Nor did he suffer fools gladly and was ready to tell off anyone he thought was wrong in trenchant terms, irrespective of their status or the context. Bill was definitely was of those rugged individualists who characterised the Planning Inspectorate when I joined and who created the high standing and regard in which it is held. PINS will be very much the poorer for his departure and personally I shall miss Bill very much. My sympathies to his family.