Bill Crossman

William (Bill) John Crossman

Bill sadly passed away at home in Stowe with his family on 20th November 2020 aged 73 years.
Bill was a dearly loved husband of Sharon, father of Andrew and Melanie, grandad of Emmeline and brother, brother in law, son in law and uncle.
He will be greatly missed by all his family and friends.

EULOGY
Bill was born, William John Crossman on 19th June 1947, growing up in post war Liverpool, a city of which he was extremely proud where he particularly loved the splendid architecture, specifically the Three Graces and St Georges Hall.

Bill grew up in a family with 4 siblings, James, Betty, Mary and Paul. As a teenager his style was slightly cramped as he took Paul, 9 years younger, with him everywhere. The five-year-old, who was always wearing wellies, even took part in the teenager’s first experiment with cigarettes, being allowed a small puff. But far from resenting this, the young Bill Crossman always recalled his time trailing his little brother around as fond and loving memories. Mary, his younger sister, says her lasting memory of her big brother was that he always looked out for her and Paul, even giving the 16-year-old Mary her marching orders when she turned up at a nightclub; he was their champion and protector when they were kids. Even at this young age Bill's love of family and his sense of care was already forming. And the role of champion and protector was one he carried throughout his life. He had many aunts and uncles he was close to when growing up. He spent many a summer at the Vardo in North Wales with Grandma and Grandad and his Uncle Freddie. He slept on hay, learned to swim in freezing water with a rope tied round his middle and helped out with the farm animals, clearly beginning his lifelong love of the countryside and nature. Bill was a talented footballer, playing a key role in a very successful St John’s school team, which won the Liverpool schools championship in 1959 and 1960, Bill remembers his uncle Joe, who was a sail maker, making his local teams entire strip out of orange sailcloth!

The young Bill had a couple of jobs before joining the Ford Motor Company, including being the youngest dough maker in Sayers! But at the age of 19 Bill landed his first job at Fords on the shop floor. Bill's career started to blossom and of course it was during that time Bill also became a father to Andrew and Melanie. Anyone who knows Bill will know just how proud he was of both of them and how much he loved them. Andrew and Melanie recall afternoons spent playing games in the garden, and their dad attending all their netball, hockey, football and other numerous sporting activities and always supporting them 100%. He encouraged their love of sport and always stressed the importance of education. The family dog Buster, the first of the springer spaniels was the fourth team member, usually nominated as fielder in their cricket matches and Bill would tease the children that Buster was brighter than them and it was a tossup who would make it to university!

As adults Bill and Sharon spent many a happy evening with Andrew and his wife Martine, singing, drinking, laughing and discussing every topic under the sun, Sharon and Martine often sharing a wry smile at just how similar father and son were. And when Mel was with her dad and Sharon, there was always laughter, music and chocolate in abundance! Mel and Bill shared very specific culinary requirements including an unswerving conviction that there is only one way to butter a slice of toast! Both Andrew and Mel knew that they always had unconditional love and support from their dad.

Bill's work ethic, his intellect and his desire to do things properly propelled him through the ranks at Ford, first as a very young foreman, then as the youngest superintendent, eventually reaching the role of Area Manager Paint Shop. It is the measure of Bill's ability as a leader that he is fondly remembered and held in high esteem by both those who worked for and with Bill and the very senior managers at the top of the corporation. By way of example I'd like to share a couple of the countless lovely messages Sharon has received from his colleagues from Ford; firstly from a member of his team, John Jones, who wrote ~ "In all the years I had been in Halewood you were the best manager I ever had, one of the old guard who worked his way up from the shop floor to the heady heights. Always fair, always had time to listen...proud to know you Bill'' and then another from John Fleming, who was the Chief Executive and Chairman of Ford of Europe, John wrote ~ “Bill was always one of my favourite people that I worked with. We often ended up laughing about things sitting in the production office in the paint shop”.

It is clear that Bill, the leader, was recognised as a person who combined being fair, open-minded and unpretentious with being a top class professional - not an easy feat and achieved by few.

And as well as his leadership capabilities Bill was fondly remembered for his singing. Rarely a Ford night out didn't end with a singsong in the early hours and Bill would be right there in the mix.

It was of course at Halewood that Bill was to meet Sharon and forge a relationship based on friendship, high regard and of course love. A friendship, a regard and a love which was to grow stronger as each year passed. Bill always described Sharon as his best friend. His life with Sharon went through many phases, as a busy working couple supporting each other and their families, and chatting to them recently, they recalled how they always sat down at the table to eat dinner and discuss their working day, supporting each other on the serious stuff and sharing a laugh over the silly things, putting it all into perspective. Then when Bill retired he threw himself into helping Sharon, warming her car before cold winter commutes, making her morning coffee, cooking delicious evening meals and then helping her analyse her day so she was ready for the next.

When Sharon was working for Total she transferred to Paris. Bill loved their time in Paris and with his thirst for knowledge and incredible memory became the best tour guide for visiting friends and family, enjoying sharing all the city had to offer. Returning to England Bill set about finding their dream home, with his love of the rural life, he once said that he would love to live in an isolated place with just his family. He got his wish when he moved here to Stowe. Very soon George and Elliot, his two springer spaniels arrived on the scene to follow in Buster's footsteps. George and Elliot were beautifully trained and they and Bill became well known around Stowe as they went on their daily walks. He loved living in Stowe, being with Sharon, being with the dogs and enjoying visits from friends and family.

Sharon, of course, was the love of his life.

Their friend Annette wrote these words, “I have so many happy memories of Bill. I feel privileged to have seen your loving and supportive relationship; you have both been an inspiration to me". Always happy in each other's company, whether they were socialising with friends and family or watching Netflix or watching real live whales in Alaska, they enjoyed the little moments and the big moments together. Sharing many interests and the same sense of the ridiculous meant they always enjoyed being together and whenever you were in their company you knew you were going to be entertained and enjoy the craic as our Irish family and friends would say.

Of course Bill's relationship with Sharon meant the start of a relationship with the rest of us Kennedys, or the Walton's as Bill always liked to call us. And I know I speak on behalf of Sean, Caroline, Anne, David and myself when I say our lives became richer with him in it.

Bill's extended family grew, his nephews and nieces enjoyed the same love and support from their Uncle Bill, as Bill enjoyed from his aunts and uncles. Paula, Nicola, Stephen, Kate, Lee, Emma, Sarah, Laura, Jack and Rachel were always close to him. He enjoyed their company as children, organising activities, games in the garden and on holidays, treasure hunts, visits to zoos, the London Eye, the British Museum etc. and then as adults, helping with jobs, cars, and sound advice. I think Kate and Stephanie probably spoke for all of them when they said, 'Uncle Bill has always been there for us'.

Friends and family alike know that Bill was always there at the front and centre, enjoying the fun, enjoying peoples' company, sharing good food and of course sharing great wine. It was always a pleasure to spend time with Bill. His generosity, his memory, of what everyone liked to eat and drink, his knowledge of wine, and his culinary expertise made Bill an amazing host. Making friends was easy for Bill, instantly likeable and full of fun he always enjoyed entertaining and socialising. Even for those friends who lived further afield there was never a problem with just picking up with where you had left off.

Eight years ago, Bill and Sharon's great niece Erica was born. Sharon and Bill love Erica dearly and they enjoyed so much having this lovely lively 4-year-old living with them, they did everything they could in so many ways to set her up for the next phase of her life's journey.

One of our many memories of Erica's time spent with Bill was singing country and western songs together at the top of their voices, an activity that will be familiar to many of the younger members of his family who were all indoctrinated with his love of country music.

The newest addition to Bill's family was his granddaughter Emmeline. Bill adored Emmeline and loved every minute he could spend with her and Mel, the Christmas Eves and Christmas mornings and the birthday parties, many happy memories, as Emmeline has inherited his readiness to laugh and his enjoyment of sweets. Bill also loved his walks around Stowe with Mel and Emmeline, initially with Emmeline in the backpack singing along (~ to country music of course) and then with Emmeline in charge of Elliot (or so she believed). A proud moment for Bill was taking Emmeline to her first day at school.

Everyone in this church and those watching from afar has had the privilege of knowing Bill. Everyone will have spent time with him, chatting, laughing, singing, drinking red wine and some of you may have joined him in shouting at the telly, watching Liverpool play.

All of us know that we have shared our time with a very special person. Someone able to combine being a person of integrity with being just really great fun.

It was suggested I finish with a personal favourite memory of my own but to be honest, I, like all of you, have shared so many great memories with Bill, for me it’s hard to choose between all the great Christmas days, all the great parties, the great dinners or even the UEFA cup final in Dortmund which Bill and I went to, so I've chosen a more recent memory. Bill, a great lover of wildlife and nature, we recently watched some reruns of wildlife programmes; one in particular was the episode where the camera crew spent an inordinate amount of time carrying out the arduous and frustrating task of trying to gain some footage of a snow leopard. We were both impressed with their dedication and commitment to the task. Little did I know I was to be reminded of this a few weeks later when Sharon set about the task of finding a suitable photo of Bill for the order of service. Bill was certainly not one for the posed shots, always interested in living in and enjoying the moment rather than capturing it, not so much concerned with recording memories as creating them, for him and for all of us.

I did ask myself, is it ok to compare Bill to a snow leopard? And then I thought why not, he was certainly both rare and wonderful.

Whilst the photos may have been hard to find, the memories are not hard to recall, and for Sharon, Andrew, Mel and Mary in particular, very few special moments in the future will happen without them thinking of Bill and experiencing these moments as he would have done. And that is a part of Bill that will live with them and all of us who knew him, forever.