Everything changes, but it suits us to act as if some things won’t.
We’re born and we will die. And during our brief lives some people, not many, we love.
Until one day it’s our own turn to die. And what is important will be forgotten.
Tributes from some of Bill’s friends and family
Luke Daly:
Here are a few from my dad’s trips to Ireland over the last couple years.
Fiona Brown:
Billy, a true friend and gentleman. We didn’t see you as much as we’d like too, but I’m happy I got to share a wee drink with you on your Birthday. Gonna miss you lots Billy.
Eman Al Wahdi:
It’s taken me all of today to collect my thoughts on this sad news. Bill has been a part of my family for the past 30 years and a brother to me here in Bahrain. My late husband Abdulla cared, loved and very much respected Bill and I know he as well would have been devastated to hear of his passing. I myself am still in complete shock.
Rest In Peace Bill. You were and will always remain a very loved member to the Al Wardi family.
Eamonn:
I have known Bill since he first landed in Bahrain, I am sorry for his family and I know how his friends are feeling right now, I cannot say more now.
RIP Bill, I loved you.
Darren Wickham:
Our deepest sympathies to Bill’s family and friends who are dealing with his loss. Many of us have had seasons of our lives spent in Bahrain and those of us fortunate enough to have known Bill were blessed by his friendship, hospitality, wit and zest for life.
Alison Rosser:
Billy was a beautiful part of my time in Bahrain 2000 – 2008. I am so terribly sorry to hear this news. I know he will be deeply missed.
Dee Fox:
Bill has been a dear friend for so many years, a friendship that crossed Ireland & Bahrain. Words cannot express how much you will be missed. R.I.P. Bill
Bobby Walsh:
Dean Susan Green said prayers for the memory of Billy today at St Colman’s Cathedral Cloyne. Billy joined our congregation in worship last summer.
Fiona Brown:
My Mom, Dad & Brother really enjoyed Billy’s company. He’d make older people especially feel special, and he was so interesting to chat too
Annette:
Billy was like a brother to me and he loved our kids he was one of the family.
He loved cars and was so happy racing in the Mini Cooper. It was always a great day out and he took my boys for a spin in the car, and then the parties afterwards. He was always making sure you had a drink or something to eat, there will be a true emptyness without him.
Thanos Pappas:
Talking about funny stories related to Bill. 2018, I’m recovering from a broken leg and I’m still in two crutches. We’re at Lanterns for lunch and a few pints, when Bill somehow manages to alter the height of one of my crutches by one click. Time to leave and I take a few steps wondering how did I get so pissed with only a few pints. Finally I turn around only to see Bill dying from laughter.
Thanos Pappas:
BBBF Christmas lunch at the Radisson Blue. The customary lottery at the end of the event and David Jeffrey wins a beautiful picnic basket which contains amongst other things two bottles of wine. We decide with Bill and David to have a few more drinks by the pool. At some point David goes to the bathroom and then Bill removes the wine bottles and replace them with ashtrays from neighbouring tables to balance the weight. After a while we all leave, David happy with his gift and Bill with one bottle under each armpit. David was shocked when he reached home and opened the basket. I’m sure that there is a happy ending of the story but for that you’ll have to check with David.
Dave Jeffries:
I remember it well. I carried that hamper all day. Went onto the Brit Club left in reception collected next day still unaware my wine had become mayonnaise, ashtrays etc.
Thanos Pappas:
Hilarious story, so typical of the naughty teenager within Bill.
Annette:
Once a few of us were in Krums restaurant and it was St Patrick’s day and we spotted the Irish flag and I said to Billy ok let’s see who ends up with the flag and the owner Bradley at the time knew what we were up to anyway Billy ended up with the flag but a year later I was having a St. Patrick’s day party and Billy lent me the flag and since then I have it and not to mention the time he got over the wall and ‘borrowed’ Jim Lawless’s Arabic door, but Jim said fair play. Always the adventures side of him came out. I remember when did the big trip across I did and he and his friend drank some whiskey every night and they were the only two that didn’t get food poisoning
Jalal:
A funny one from his India trip. At one stage they were 3 persons on the trip. One of them always making excuses when it came time to pay- no change or no wallet etc. So one day Billy and the other guy decided they had enough. After eating they sneaked out of the restaurant and left him there. Went back to the hotel and waited. Sometime later he arrives in a rickshaw with a few people in tow demanding their money. As well as the rickshaw driver. He asked Billy and the other guy to help out but of course they refused, or couldn’t-probably from severe laughter. He couldn’t take the joke and left India the next day.
George Middleton:
So Bill was invited to Bahrain This Month’s 100th Edition Launch Celebration on 30th November 2005 at The Ritz Carlton Hotel which featured the most accomplished tribute act of Michael Jackson; courtesy of Navi, who we flew out from the UK especially for the occasion which was appropriately themed “A Night With the Stars”.
As he danced and lip-synced to genuine MJ soundtracks, performing and mingling with over 500 guests at a time when the real MJ was living here in Bahrain, Bill was not alone in assuming (for a while) that the King of Pop had graced us with his presence during that special evening. Navi (who incidentally starred in the 2017 film, “Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland.”) was practically indistinguishable from the real McCoy.
At the very end of the evening, after most of our guests were gone, I happened to spot Bill in one of his not-too-infrequent bouts of cleptomania, singlehandedly carrying out at least three of the seven foot high Hollywood street signs which had been specially constructed for the evening. As he saw me gazing incredulously at this ongoing feat of grand larceny, he immediately offered to pay me BD 20/- per sign explaining that, by his reckoning, we were most likely to throw them away – anyway – the next morning and he hoped, instead, to rescue them since he thought they would look quite good in his home bar.
Of course, I let him have it… the Hollywood signs I mean, and his disarming charm was so overwhelming that I found myself refusing his gallant offer to pay for them as he professed that evening to have been the most memorable and enjoyable that he’d experienced to date during his time in Bahrain.
Farewell Dear Bill… I’ll take what you owe me in Heaven.
Hugh:
Wonderful memories emanating from that George from my first year or so in Bahrain. What a different place it was then… it really shows what’s missing. So wonderful to see some old faces there and thinner bellies!
I met Bill for the first time about 15 months before that on my first visit here to establish the company, It was at Mike Dowdall’s house on a raucous night (most of which will remain in my memory and not on this group :)
We spent almost 60 hours drinking more than I had done in the preceding 5 years over that weekend – in those days beginning on Wednesday night and ending on Sunday! I believe we had about 6 ‘breakfast’ sessions during the weekend as various people woke up from their stupor and decided it was the ‘right time of day’ for that meal!
A residing memory of that time was also his invite to introduce me to some more long term Brits in Bahrain and he took me to Andrew Hedges’ place for one of his famed Brunches. We spent about 4 hours in the bar together with Bill taking me through the amazing picture wall documenting the highlights of “Hedgehog’s” very memorable life. I left soon after that to organise the move from UK back to Bahrain and we had one further visit early in 2005 with Hedgehog, another complete alcohol haze which led to another one of those “I’ll drive you home” moments! I certainly wasn’t sober (or sensible) enough to refuse the invitation, however, the death defying trip back into Juffair cured all of that. I got out as sober as a judge!
If memory serves me right, not too long after Hedgehogs demise, we went together to Rock Bottom where we met Alena, who shortly afterwards became his girlfriend, which increased the visits to his garden for ‘dinner’ – though there was rarely much food on offer… just more than you could handle of Wine and Whisky!
He will have a place in my heart forever as the most convivial of hosts and a man who, it seemed, knew anyone that was anyone…. with the most sarcastic and, often, life damaging sense of humour.
RIP Bill – you lived life to the full and we will all miss you dreadfully. You shall remain part of this man’s soul until I see you again. H
George Middleton:
Yes indeed Hugh – treasured memories indeed of Bill and the legend that was ‘Lord’ Andy Hedges Le Mans winner in the year I was born I believe (1955) who in the late seventies paid back every penny to private investors in a commodity fund he was representing in Bahrain after it went bust with his own money and initiative because he was a man of decency, principle and integrity. God Bless them both!
Charlie Cooksey:
First time I met Bill was sometime in March 2017 on a visit here to see Dad, I met him in Camelot along with all his and my dad’s pals. I could tell by Bills accent he was from ROI but I thought I’d wind him up by asking if he’s from Belfast and he mildly snapped at me – lol.
A story with Bill that always makes me laugh – he’d always be moaning about how expensive alcohol is these days, and especially the prices of drinks in Coda Nightclub. Always ranting on how a certain bottle of wine, that is also available to buy in the booze shop, costs twice as much for a glass in Coda Nightclub than it does for a bottle in the booze shop.
One night in Coda he ordered a pint of beer and reluctantly paid around 5bd for it – he argued with the barmaid that it definitely wasn’t a pint and he was being stiffed over. The bar maid assured him it was a pint. He swiped the glass at the end of the night and took it home with him, took out a measuring jug in his kitchen to check and sure enough he was right – it was less than a pint.
Alison Rosser:
What amazing stories. So I met Billy in 2004/5….there were a lot of parties and wine and driving with one eye shut and laughing and constant chit chat…..he really was the most remarkable company, loved by all that understood his naughty sense of humour and never a dull moment.
One memory that sticks out for me was his weekend ritual of the gym and then poolside at the Ritz, I wasn’t a member and I remember one day he called me up to go saying he’d had an idea that he would distract the pool access reception staff and I could slip in and he’d meet me poolside.
So we arrived and true to form he easily distracted the lady on reception with his charm as I slipped through and we had the best day. We did this a few times and on one occasion once we had met poolside Billy saw they had completed the beachside villas…..’up for a walk’ he said and as we got to the row of villas realised they were fully completed with private pools working and all but no one had moved in….so we spent the day lounging in the private pools, in the villas, on the beach….glorious.
This picture is not connected to the Ritz story but it always makes me laugh, it was around Christmas 2006 and there had been a Gangster and Molls Ball or some such event around that time, he had come to pick us up and drove very seriously like this to dinner in character the whole way.
He was a truly wonderful friend in our moment in time and I took for granted that our paths would cross again. His memories will live on. Love you Billy see you on the other side. Alison xx
Oh and PS. The photo wasn’t the actual night of the ball. He’d found the plastic prop in the car from whenever it was and had forgotten about it.
Annette:
One Friday we had planned to go out in Billy’s boat so I made kits of snacks and a big flask of tea so we sped out and then stopped out at sea and we chatted. The kids jumped in and out of the sea and I can’t swim so I just sat there with my life jacket on and enjoyed the tea etc. Then I badly wanted to use the toilet and Billy was oh no way is anybody going to use that as he said that is something not allowed so by the time we got back to land as some Irish people say ‘my back teeth were floating’. So off the boat I jumped and ran to the nearest toilet. He got an earful from me but we knew each other so well we had our own jokes.
Derek O’Flynn:
Hi guys, I thought you might like an old story about Billy when we shared an apartment in Dublin.
In 1989, Billy had this really nice new Ericsson mobile which he left on the roof of his car one Thursday evening. He drove off, turned a corner and the phone fell off onto the footpath. Having gotten home and realizing he had lost his lifeline to the world (£1600) at the time, he was devastated. I suggested he ring the nearest police(Garda) station on my phone and see if anyone handed it in. Few people had a mobile at that time so when it was found by a very lovely lady and handed in Bill was ecstatic. As we had had a good few drinks at this stage, Billy told the policeman he would collect it in the morning and jokingly told the cop to take any messages.
When he got to the station the following morning, he was greeted by three different cops who all had a bunch of messages and one told him he would definitely press charges against one young lady who rang Billy so often, that the cop classed her as a stalker.
He got his phone back and made three new friends.
Declan:
It has been a roller coaster of emotions these past two and a half weeks, and it’s still hard to come to terms with the reality of what is – how magical it would be if it were all a dream or a movie.
If it were the latter, I guess one could be forgiven for titling it the “Wolf of Manama” after having read all the intriguing posts above.
I came across a photo of a dinner table in Budaiya from 1997 where Bill could be seen joking with the young kids at the table. At gatherings Bill would always slip away to play with the kids and was the biggest kid at heart.
He enjoyed telling stories of his nieces and nephews, for example the amazing driving skills on the UK farm.
Bill had the biggest smile when sharing pictures of Luke at the Melbourne F1, as proof of being a chip off the old block. He was so proud.
Following my wife’s death in 1998, if I had to work on a Friday, Bill would be at the front door in Budaiya early Friday morning to take my 9 and 11 year olds to the yacht club or the cinema where he truly spoiled them. In those days, his only day off was a Friday, which he so willingly gave up. To this day neither of my daughters have forgotten his genuine kindness and caring. Such kindness, caring and guidance was also afforded to so many new arrivals on the island, entrepreneurs or friends of a friend just passing through. There would always be an airport pick up, a set of wheels, a bed, a meal available without question, but most importantly of all, Bill always made time, no excuses. And this trait was not just for humans, but evident in his love and devotion to animals (large and small).
His ethos, acumen, professionalism and negotiating skills were well known and respected in Bahrain and beyond. Everyone wanted a seat at his table.
I was lucky to have stayed with Bill for every F1 in Bahrain since the opener in 2004. I enjoyed how relaxing it was in his Aladdin’s cave, a house of memorabilia and family photos which he was so eager to show. How can you forget that kitchen table cum library under a dusting of cigar ash, or the leather couch, where Bill on returning from the office would lay down for a quick recharging siesta which we all envied. And then fully charged, the debating table in the garden would be called to session where the world would be put to right. As always, the hunt was better than the kill.
I’m lucky to have very fond and happy memories of such a wonderful gentleman, which I will play like a movie in my head many times I’m sure, but with a different title.
Derek O’Flynn:
Thank you Declan. Your words are so true that the emotion is overwhelming. I was with you for the first few F1’s and loved every minute and in particular Bill’s siesta time with Only Fools and Horses.
I think it’s fair to say that Bill made a huge difference to us all who were lucky enough to really know him. I have no idea how to fill the gap but I will say that all the great stories on this group chat really are helping me to cope with the most tragic loss since my brother Jim. Bill came home to help me through that. What a friend.
Rachel:
Declan, I knew he’d love telling you about William’s driving. Will (who is very like Billy in so many ways) is having his first flying lesson today (we booked it two years ago!) Billy told us that Will might make a good military pilot.
Billy used to camp outside in the winter with my sons, and kept an army surplus camouflage outfit here for this purpose. I know he was Uncle Bill to your girls too.
Annette:
I feel like there is an emptiness that can’t be filled by anyone so strange that one friend that you love so much is gone like one day he was here next day gone. He was such a part of our lives the link that is gone but I think we need to gather together at his house b4 it’s sold or whatever but because Billy isn’t here I hope that we can all still remain friends. And as Billy use to say: Okey dokey.
Maria Ramos (Bahrain 2002—2008. Presenter at Bahrain Radio & TV):
I will always remember just how much I laughed in Billy’s company and especially on nights out with Billy, Tim, Tameem, Ela and later with Sophie who I met in 2006. It was the sort of laughter that hurt your belly. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much.
Billy was like a big brother in Bahrain. He would call every day to ‘check in’ and when you’re alone in a country, it feels like family.
I used to look forward to finishing my shifts at Radio Bahrain or Bahrain TV and drive straight to Billy’s to sit in his beautiful garden. He would always prepare the most delicious Gin and Tonics. Sometimes Tameem or other friends would be there already. It was so wonderful to meet them after work and not go straight home.
Twice Billy invited me to the desert with friends at night for a BBQ which was a wonderful experience. I also remember going on his boat and it getting stuck on a sand bank. Sophie and I laughed so much.
Billy’s sister Rachel gave me a spoon ring that she made and – which I have worn constantly on TV. A little bit of Billy’s family is on my finger, still shining for the world to see…
Rest in Peace dear Billy, we’ll drink Gin & Tonics in a beautiful garden one day again.
Sophie Man-Cheung:
I met Billy in 2006, introduced by my friend Maria. He was funny, entertaining and easy to chat to as others have said. Notable memories include being invited out on his boat with friends. There we were in bikinis and him in his shorts grounded on a sandbank (in Saudi waters), with manic Cuban dance tunes going and us telling Billy to relax and join us for lunch before tackling the sandbank – this was one of those times his sensible instinct kicked in to keep us all safe, so we didn’t run the risk of arrest found dressed as we were(n’t) with musical entertainment in Saudi waters.
Billy tended to play down the drama, especially if he was caught out 😉. Another memory is when a group of us had toured Istanbul and stayed out at various nightspots fitting as much as we could into 24 hours before flying off home for Christmas. Billy teased us ladies endlessly about being sure to miss our flights. Well, too much Turkish delight must’ve made him miss his flight as Maria quipped; he only just about made it back to Cork for Christmas day!
One thing about Billy was he liked to be the one to call family and friends – his family especially, he would say. He cared very deeply and did not want the shock of bad news from loved ones, who meant so much to him. He would frequently end a call with, ‘Cut you loose now’… I still hear him saying it. Now I somehow feel like in letting go it’s time to say ‘Cut you loose Billy’. God rest you in His tender embrace forever.
David Lauer (Bill Daly’s friend):
A favorite memory I have of Bill was when we met in Munich in the summer of 2016. As many of you know, Bill was an avid World War II historian. There were many times after watching a WW II film, he would scholarly point out the inaccuracies of the costumes. Acting, directing, cinematography be damned – If the wardrobe wasn’t right, the picture was a flop. The rare times a movie did get the uniforms right, Bill would enthusiastically praise the film as “fantastic”. He should have known. His home was filled with books and authentic WW II memorabilia.
We met in the center of Munich on a crisp bluebird morning and made the 2-hour drive south to Berchtesgaden in the heart of Bavaria. It is a jaw dropping beautiful part of the world in the German alps. A famous attraction is the infamous Eagles Nest, which was a 50th birthday present given to Adolph Hitler by the Third Reich. Bill had never visited the area; but had more knowledge of it than any tour guides who worked there. After an evening of remarkable German food and beer, we awoke early and took the winding road up to the Eagles Nest on the peak of a mountain. The day was unlike any I had experienced, where the clouds would build and disappear within seconds. One moment you could see hundreds of miles of magnificent vistas and the next be in the middle of a cloud bank unable to view your shoes. We spent about an hour wandering around the top of the mountain in awe. Eventually we went inside the Eagles Nest for a coffee and strudel before making our trip back down. I believe the pictures capture a youthful happiness of Bill that day. He was in heaven.
George Cherian:
What can I say about Billy to show the kind of person and friend that has not already been said.
A consummate gentleman with the sharpest of wit and sarcasm whose company I always enjoyed over a beer or two at upstairs downstairs. A gentleman he was with one and all and a charmer with the ladies. We never hung out much but whenever he visited it was always fun. Will miss your wisdom and wit, you rascal
Nick Cooksey:
A few quick Bill stories
I could write so many, so here are just the first few that came to mind – a few simple observations that don’t do justice to the man, but then how do you articulate a friendship?
Bill was so happy when he finally made contact and met up with his son Luke. It hurt him that he had, in his view, been torn away from his only son and not been able to have been a father to him and been with him as he grew up. It was something he rarely spoke about but when he did, he revealed the immense pain he felt.
He was a very loyal friend, and for his best friends there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for them… except lend them money (not that I ever asked). He was a wise and clear thinker and could give very good advice.
And a few funny stories…
Bill was fascinated with military history, particularly the second world war, and had a valuable collection of Nazi memorabilia. I remember him showing my son Charlie and me some of his collection and explaining their history. Just as I was thinking it would make an interesting video his Jack Russell, Milo, started humping Bill’s leg. Bill ignored the amorous dog and continued with his talk in all seriousness. After a few seconds of stunned silence, Charlie and I burst out laughing – as did Bill. If it had of been videoed it would have gone viral.
I had some antique furniture stored in several very large wooden freight boxes that he let me keep in his house – next to his dining table. They must have been an ugly eyesore to anyone sitting in Bill’s lounge but he didn’t care. They’ve been there about seven years and in all that time he never once asked why I didn’t keep them at my own place.
Some winters Bill would organize a group of us to go and spend the night sleeping under the stars in the desert (what’s left of it). While we would all dress to keep warm, Bill would dress like Indiana Jones with a combat knife strapped to him.
He loved animals but would say that strays shouldn’t be fed as he believed it made them weak and reduced their survival abilities. I had a different view and would often feed the stray cats that lived near his house and played in his garden. It used to infuriate him, or at least he pretended it did.
He was a free spirit and didn’t have time for stupid people or feel the need to obey stupid rules. He also loved to play pranks on people, especially those he didn’t much like. I’d better not write these down but will be happy to verbally share some stories on a person-to-person basis.
Most Friday mornings I’d go to his house for a coffee and sometimes for one of his excellent cooked breakfasts. In the summer we’d be in his kitchen to stay cool, but otherwise we’d always sit at his outside table, chat about all sorts of things, and “put the world to rights”. But really we just liked to ‘hang out’ together. I will miss those Fridays.