Bill was the best chairman we had on my days on the council. If two members had fallen out during a meeting he made it his business to buy them both a drink in the pub afterwards and make the peace.
Another example of his wisdom arose after a long-forgotten incident in which David Steel, then the Liberal leader, was wrestled to the ground by Cleo Rocos.
One evening before a meeting Bill came over to describe the encounter. Being originally a Sufflok man, he found it natural to add: "You could see her nellies."
He then thought for a moment and said of Steel: "I think that will do him a lot of good."
David Steel spoke in Orpington that night at a rally celebrating the 25th anniversary of the by-election. He left after his speech instead of going to Orpington Liberal Club because "he didn't feel well and was going home". Then this appeared in the press the next day.
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