Obituaries William ‘Bill’ Alistair Shannon (48-54) Born 25 July 1937, died 2 February 2017, aged 79
Edinburgh was the capital, Glasgow in those days had ‘the capital’, was the explanation. Having persuaded my mother with two young boys that a move to Glasgow wasn’t to be feared and that it should only be for two years or so, he ended up staying in Scotland, successfully growing offices in Glasgow and then Edinburgh, where he finally settled after retiring. My father never forgot his school days, Whilst my father’s heart always rested entering Class II.2 at RGS in 1948. in the North East of England, he did Despite having joined the school become an adopted Scot and I think through a Scholarship, he always that it was largely because of his sharp delighted in telling my brother Ian and wit and love of people that he was to I of his academic inadequacies, as he have such success in both his business saw them. His favourite story of a and social life. His defining (if not Math’s report, went something like apocryphal) story at starting life in this: “Subject – Maths; number in Scotland was of visiting a housewife class – 31; position in class – 31; in a Glasgow tenement to deal with a report – weak”! claim and being greeted with, “Yer nae He loved to tell that tale perhaps as Scottish”. “No, I’m a Geordie”, he he went on to be a Fellow of both the replied. “Och, that’s awreet then, Chartered Insurance Institute (FCII) and I thought you were English!” the Chartered Institute of Loss My father’s family and friends can Adjusters (FCILA) where he would thank RGS for teaching him to play the demonstrate considerable skill and clarinet. He played with ‘The Bill success as a chartered loss adjuster Shannon Quintet’ as a young man, but culminating in a specialism for fish farm continued bursting out Acker Bilk at claims. His career began in Newcastle gatherings whenever he had the with Iron Trades, then to JP Smith and chance. In retirement years, he would Co. and after what he saw as the close be a regular player on the Bo’ness shave of joining a firm in London, was Santa Steam Trains at Christmastime, subsequently invited to develop his although recounting that the dozens of talents in the North East with Graham tunes he had to play quite wore him out. Miller & Co. where he spent much more Activities from his schooldays were time at home with his wife, Jenny. carried on long after leaving. He spent Having said that, it wasn’t long time assisting at some of the the annual afterwards that he admitted asking his camps, notably that in Wensleydale, much-revered boss Tom Fairnington which was led by Laurence ‘Larry’ why the company didn’t have any Watson (30-71), one of the great presence in Scotland, to which he was characters from the staff. promptly asked to go and open an My father was immensely proud of office there in 1971. Although dreaming the RGS, and maintained contacts with of new surroundings in Edinburgh, he many Old Novos including Trevor was quickly told that he would be Rees (48-55) who has provided some opening an office in Glasgow – whilst of the detail for this note. After his move
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to the west of Scotland he made contact with those who had gravitated to the same area and organised a meeting in Glasgow around 1979. Amazingly, half-a-dozen individuals from Class II.2 of 1948 attended. He was then to the fore in organising a Scottish branch of the Old Novos which ran for several years subsequently. Although retired from insurance loss adjusting, he did not opt for a quiet life. He was involved with a wide range of charities and interests including The Scottish Railway Preservation Society, The Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway, Water of Leith Conservation Trust, Seagull Trust, Probus Clubs, Association of Speakers Clubs and the Community Council. My mother quipped that she only knew what he was doing each day by the uniform or tie he was wearing on his way out. Whilst he had lived with heart disease for some time and despite having gone through some wonderful, if not testing treatment and surgery over the years, he remained strong and sharp, pushing on right to the end; the way we know he wanted to. His enthusiasm for life and the energy he derived from being around other people were demonstrated by the standing room only attendance at his funeral taken by his close Newcastle friend of 60 years, Malcolm Kennedy. Being meticulous and a great organiser, he has left his wife Jenny, sons David and Ian and family with clear instructions on the event of his death and we are grateful that he has done so with such love, generosity, order and of course his unshakeable good humour. We will miss him dearly, but our lives have been shaped and blessed because of the person he was. By David J Shannon
