Bills funeral is today and was marked by a flypast by Sywell based T-6G G-DDMV many thanks to all at Warbird Experiences.
RIP Bill.
Ben
From the Evening Telegraph:
A man who was the inspiration behind a lasting tribute to American servicemen stationed in the county during the Second World War has died.
Amateur historian William Donald, of Harborough Road, Rushden, wrote John Burn One-Zero-Five – the Story of Chelveston Airfield and the 305th Bomb Group, and was the inspiration behind the project to erect a memorial in Chelveston to the 700 Americans based there who died during the war.
Mr Donald, 61, known as Billy, died of cancer on Saturday, May 3.
Son Ian said: “Dad had a general interest in the airfield and began to write to veterans asking for their stories.
“He felt each of the servicemen had a story to tell and it was important to him that other people heard those stories.
“He also played a role in designing and planning the war memorial and he was very proud when it was finally completed.”
Chelveston-cum-Caldecott Parish Council chairman Adrian Dale worked with Mr Donald on the war memorial.
He said: “Billy was the inspiration behind the memorial. He presented the original sketches for it about 10 years ago and in his modest manner asked the parish council if it thought the memorial was a good idea.
“Everyone who knew him was very sad to learn he was ill. The memorial is like his epitaph and is a great achievement.
“Every time I pass it I will remember Billy, as well as the servicemen, because he did so much to keep their memories alive.”
Mr Donald was born in Stonehaven in Scotland but moved to Northamptonshire.
He worked for Timpson shoe factory in Kettering and then at the steelworks in Corby before moving to Higham Ferrers in 1975 to be near his work at the Harris tannery.
He later became a handyman and gardener and worked at various nursing homes in Irchester, Rushden and Raunds.
The funeral will be held at St John’s Church, Chelveston, at 2pm today.
There will be family flowers only but donations in his memory can be sent to Cats Protection care of A Abbott and Sons, Independent Family Funeral Directors, Bedford Road, Rushden.
By: Whitey - 30th May 2008 at 17:16
Billy Donald
As a friend and colleague of Bill’s, for 16 years I guess, I am lost without my scottish buddy now. I attended his funeral, was honoured to be asked to speak a few words about Billy. I shall miss him.
Yes he had a terrific send off, much of it I think would have embarressed Billy, as humble and modest a man he was. Forever standing at the back, watching an event and the results of his hard work. But that was was his, and we celebrated and remembered a great friend.
Like I said that afternoon, he leaves a huge footprint, and a legacy second to none. It shall never fade away….
Nightie Night Billion…
Whitey
By: T-21 - 14th May 2008 at 07:34
Very sad news,I missed the funeral as I am currently in Ireland. His book is a great testament to his devotion and expertise on the 305th Bomb Group. So glad he had a flypast as he would have liked that. Bill you will not be forgotten.
By: SEAFURYADIC - 13th May 2008 at 18:02
Sorry Ben impatient I pressed post twice, whoops.
By: SEAFURYADIC - 13th May 2008 at 17:51
SEAFURYADIC
Hi,
I am new to this forum and did not know Bill and the wonderful work it appears he carried out on Chelveston and the 305th BG. I wish I had, as in 1979 and as a member of the Essex Aviation Group. I invited over to this Country the now late Col. Hugh G. Ashcraft Jr., the pilot of the famous B17F the ‘Southern Comfort’. Hugh and his wife visited the crash site with us where his B17F ‘The Southern Comfort’ crashed, at Wickham Bishops, near Witham, Essex. He actually unearthed some of his own aircraft, and was very surprised at its condition . As time went on Hugh and his family visited me and my friends on at least three maybe four occasions, I began a very long correspondence relationship with the entire crew, apart from Steve Gogoyla who was killed after baling out and he fell out of his parachute on their last mission to Rotterdam.They were forced to return after heavy fighter attacks. It would have been nice to have shared all this with Bill, its a small world until you want something, it can then be very big. To a man I never knew but respect his efforts and achievements, R.I.P. Bill.
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May 13, 2008 at 3:31 pm