R.I.P Bill Shipton

[TottyMcGee]

Just got this awful news, totally shocked and saddened.

Here's to a great man who wasn't afraid to live life his way, who brought fun and good spirits to so many people. It was a true pleasure and an honour to have known him.

[osbaldeston]

I hope it's OK to post a link to this tribute I found written by one of Bill's friends & former colleagues.

http://tonymurrayblog.blogspot.hk/2013/ ... otten.html

[sol84]

The true stature of a person tends to be the 'gap' they leave when their time comes due.

I can speak only for myself, but a huge shock and great sadness to hear this news.

I've said how much Bill did for people like me before - to his obvious embarrassment - I regret that, but not that I let him know ( whether he quite believed it of not ).

I wont forget.

[googuy]

I'm not sure what to say at such sad news,

Id just like to thank Bill for and the fun and laughs he's brought to me and many others over the years
if it wasn't for him my life would be alot less Messy and very boring

My thoughts are with you and all your friends and family RIP Bill

[muckypup]

I hope it's OK to post a link to this tribute I found written by one of Bill's friends & former colleagues.

http://tonymurrayblog.blogspot.hk/2013/ ... otten.html

Yes of course it is. I was thinking it might be good to post some of his "best bits" here or on another thread as a kind of tribute?

Messed in peace indeed.

[Richard]

Having been out all day I switched on my computer just a few minutes ago and was greeted by this sad news!
I can only add my tribute to all the others here. I was privileged to have met Bill in person at the Splosh studio as well as at a few meets. What a shock and what a loss to the 'splosh community' in the UK as well as worldwide!
If there are custard pies in the afterlife, Heaven help the angels!

[EliseWood]

Just seen the sad news. Am very sorry to hear it and my thoughts are with all Bill's family and friends.

Elise. xxx

[naughtyjim]

Have no good words. RIP Bill - you were awesome!

[Lizzie_Claymore]

This is truly awful news. I couldn’t believe it when I saw it pop up in an e-mail feed from FetLife. I’m not around much these days so I’m a bit late getting the info. Does anyone know what happened yet? Was it related to the heatwave perhaps? It’s all the more surprising considering that he’d only recently reported being given the all clear from the medics.

I only met him the once, when he came to our North-west Splunch. What a hoot he was! The great thing about Splosh (in all its guises) was Bill’s silly and irreverent sense of humour which carried through in his sploshing and slapstick scenes in a way that I’ve not seen matched from any of the other producers. He also had an encyclopaedic knowledge of so many things – old trains and buses plus, of course, classic TV & radio comedy. I loved chatting to him as we were totally on the same wavelength there. I know he was proud of having written sketches for The Two Ronnies (amongst others) and his “Water Water” pub sketch was shown again on TV only recently.

His legacy must surely be the Splosh site and it’s certainly the friendliest, funniest and most welcoming/open-minded of all the WAM sites, IMHO (without wishing to disrespect any of the others ... but you know what I mean!) That was especially true for those of us in the Trans community of sploshers after the Wamdrogeny site closed and he welcomed us in with open arms.

I do hope the site can be preserved and continue. What better tribute could there be to the person who gave us the term ‘sploshing’? Incidentally, does anyone know how Hayley is taking all this. I hope she’s ok.

To paraphrase the late great Douglas Adams: “So long and thanks for all the pies”!

[landroverfun]

A great legend has passed. All of our condolences pay tribute to an amazing guy who has all touched a part of our messy selves. My thoughts go out to his family. Rip BIll

[SimonW]

I hope it's OK to post a link to this tribute I found written by one of Bill's friends & former colleagues.

http://tonymurrayblog.blogspot.hk/2013/ ... otten.html

I'd never realised that Bill's name was a nom-de-plume! Or that he was a man of so many talents. Thank God that there are men like him who can live so honestly and freely, and brighten our lives for us by deflating pomposity.

[marie_messy_cd]

Oh my god, only just seen this, such a shock to hear.

I never had the honour of meeting Bill or visiting splosh but had many a chat with him, what a guy, the world is definitely a lesser place without him here.

RIP Bill

[squidgybaws]

RIP Bill, I can only echo the sentiments, our loss is heavens gain.

[gungediver]

I think some of us are in more shock hearing this bad news than when a certain princess died. Bill felt like a very close friend to so many even though most of us had never met him!!. Most sploshers have two lives, one normal and one splosh! our close friends and family make up our normal day and Bill was part of our secret, secure and extremely fun other life which when we are all feeling down revert back, to escape and enjoy ourselves.

I have just told my girlfriend whilst in shock what sad news it is to hear about Bill Shipton, "Bill who?!" she say's...............oh dear............"you better put the kettle on and sit down, and whilst you are there bring that carton of custard"!

There will be a lot of people who wont be able to share their grief with friends, which is a shame but at least our community all know who he was!!

I wonder if those angels know what's coming, won't be long until not many will be left clean and innocent!!

RIP Bill

[orangey]

So sad - RIP Bill - what a top bloke!
During the late 90s and early 00s I did a couple of sessions in Bills studio and they were great days out. Bill was willing to let the fun go on and when needed help out with a large custard pie to Gillys bum! Tough job eh, lets celebrate the fact that he had a job doing what he loved and i'm sure that brought him and other lesser mortals like me much pleasure and fun along the way. Providing other people with lots of happiness and pleasure is very under rated in life generally and Bill did that for decades - i'll raise a glass to him tonight..