Bills Funeral

What a day!!! Bill would be smiling from one ear to the other with the send off he got. A very sad but beautiful day, the sun shone like it has not shone all year, so much warmth. I couldn't count how many people attended, far to many but each one did Bill proud. I know Bills family were so brave, it is hard to put in to words my admiration I have for all of them, all so strong...

I have attached a letter I received from Derek Hopkins...

Unfortnately I could not attend the Funeral but I thought I'd write something on Bill

I haven't known Bill Ward long and I don't know him very well but he will always be with me following one day in Toronto.

I lost my Father in May 2005 and fought at High Wycombe two weeks later and I was a disaster. So I go to the World Masters in Mississauga, Toronto not in the best of shape mentally. First round I have the previous years Gold medallist who beats me. So only a bronze to aim for. Then along comes Bill and he decides to be the matside coach. I think he was trying to be everyone's but he seemed to be mine.

We decide just to take things as they come and the 1st and second rounds were relatively easy - well I don't remember much anyway I only have video of one 16 second fight so...

Then comes the famous or infamous fight with Aziz Bendriss, who fights out of the NYAC Judo Club. We had a hard fight which Bill and I had decided I would fight tactically as Bill had seen that Aziz had won his previous fights by making his opponents look passive. So I worked hard and Aziz was given 2 shidos, I got a bit tired and I got one too. So scoreboard should say 2 Koka's to me and 1 to Aziz, but when the referee signals that Aziz as won we are dumbfounded to find that the scoreboard has the score 3 to 2 in Aziz's favor. Aziz says to the referee that this is wrong but he is waved away. Bill's first words are "Stay There, Do Not come Off" and stalks round the mat to the officials.

30 minutes I stand in the middle of the mat (well I think it was that long but it seemed longer) and Bill fought my case including finding video evidence that the scoreboard was incorrect and Aziz backing Bill up that the result was wrong. The result was changed and thanks to Bill and my opponent that fight is won.

Next fight with a Brazilian gets me a photo in The World of Judo thanks to Bob Willingham and Bills instructions from the side and into the Bronze medal fight. My opponent is a Canadian who won the weight category in Japan, George Jobb.

We have a very hard fight that due to neither of us being able score goes to golden score. Bill is giving me instructions the whole time giving me great confidence. Off we go again and Georg attacks with Uchi Mata and I counter with Ura Nage for Ippon. My wife goes nuts and a lot of others are very pleased.

I com off and thank Bill for his help and he then tells me that as I was doing the counter he was going NO, NO, NO, in his head and when we landed it was a big YES....

I met George at the World Masters this year and he asked where Bill was. After telling him that Bill was not well he told me that he remembered Bill as the only matside coach he did not want to have against him. Bill's constant instructions and insight into what my opponent was trying to do was in his words "a pain in the ass".

My thanks and thoughts will always contain Bill for that single day which we did for my Father.

Bless the man his smile and his Judo

Derek

Ron and Tracy Angus Bill Ward

I have just receive an email from Ron and Tracy Angus who are Canadians. As you can see by the attached letter, another player that has fond memories of Bill...

Bill Ward

I’m greatly saddened by the news Bill Ward passed away. He was a long time friend and Club mate. In facted he was one of the first judoka to befriend me on my arrival in Great Britain in 1976. Bill often went out of his way to show me the ropes while training in London, England.

As a training partner I recall Bill as a tough and intense opponent, that in the middle of an intense fight would break into a big cocky boyish grin leaving you with the uneasy feeling he just craked the secret to how he was going to throw you.

After many years, I recently had the pleasure to catch up with Bill at the World Masters held in Canada. We talked of Families, jobs, and mortgages. Joking how we must be getting old as there was little to no talk of judo.

However while watching Bill that day and admiring that he still had his great tactical abilities, I was very pleased to see during a tough fight, Bill break into that BIG cocky smile, showing that the young man I new in the 70’s with the boyish enjoyment of competing was still strong and alive in him.

That was the last time I saw him and I will remember Bill Ward as a Friend, a Training Partner and a Real Character in all the very best sense of the word .

Bill was one of a kind!

My sincere sympathy goes out to his family

Ron Angus
Canada

Funeral Details For Friday

Bill's funeral will take place at South Essex Cemetery (Corbets Tey) Okendon Road,
RM14 2UY at 10.30. From there we will travel back to St Lukes Church for the Memorial Service at 11.30. St Lukes is in Front Lane, Cranham, RM14 1LL

The family have asked for no flowers but if people would like to make a donation to St Francis Hospice where Bill was looked after in his last days, that would be greatly appreciated.
All monies donated can be forwarded to B.F.Mulley & Sons, 254 St Mary's Lane, Upminster, essex, RM14 3DH. Please make cheques payable to St Francis Hospice.

Thank you all

See you soon

Bill...

Rest in Peace Bill

It is with great sadness to tell you Bill Ward lost his greatest battle yesterday morning. Bill was admitted to St Francis Hospice on Thursday, Bill past away peacefully at 9am Saturday morning.Our thoughts go out to Pippa and all the children. It is a pleasure to have known Bill and as of many of you will have some very fond memories.. Rest in Peace Bill, you are no longer in pain..

God bless

Bill...

Beginners and post codes.

This a message for Katrina and also for those who have sat nav's and require the post code of Harlequins Gymnastic Club...

Post Code Rm3 0ap

Katrina, any Senior beginners can come along to the Theory mat, Mondays at 7.30pm. Once they have been a few times then there are other classes they can join in with. I hope this helps.

Look forward to seeing you, where has that time gone?

Bill...

Medal Haul For Ford

14 players from Ford Judo Club competed in the first Identifying competition of the year held at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham on the 07.09.08. points are gained for medallist and 5th placed players. These points are carried forward to the National Championships where more points are gained by the same system. This is how the British Cadet Squad is selected for the following year. Very good performances were given by the clubs players, many moving up to age band categories they had not competed in before, making them the youngest in that class.
The performances bodes well for the National Championships that will be held in October at the Ice Hockey Stadium in Sheffield, this has been the events venue for the last couple years since moving from Crystal Palace which is having major repairs carried out.

The medallists were Tom Williams -81kg Gold, Dru Oaks -73kg Gold, Brandon Tutthill -42kg Silver, Chloe Jackson -52kg Silver, Kelly Staddon -44kg Silver, Frankie Goulding -90kg Bronze, Matthew Kavanagh -55kg Bronze and Richard Jackson -46kg Bronze.

Also picking up valuable 5th place points just narrowly missing out on Bronze medals were Abbie Willis and DJ Irving both giving promising performances.

Other members of the team who fought extremely hard and gave a very good account of themselves were Jon Jackson -73kg, Sean Fazons -60kg, Duncan Ward -42kg and Ryan Conroy -55kg. The lessons learnt from these tournaments are invaluable to each players future development, which help to build on strengths and improve weaknesses.

Bill...

First Night

Our first night at Harlequins went with only a few minor hitches, which hopefully will be ironed out over the next couple of weeks. The first class was surprisingly quiet but maybe kids were returning to school today after their summer break? Remember, we need new members for this mat, so if you know anyone, bring them along!
The sprung floor was great but the matter of the mats opening up needs to be rectified, hopefully velcro will solve that issue.

Not sure how many people, (if any) are looking at this site, please leave your names in the comments so I have an idea please...

See you all tomorrow night...

Bill...

The Day is Here

I would just like to thank John, Mike, Nicky, Keith and Mike for their help in moving clubs over the weekend, a very long day yesterday but we got there, thank you guy's, it was very much appreciated.

Well, the day is here, it will be our first night training at the Harlequins Gymnastics club tonight and I am hoping all our old members will find their way there without much problems. Ford Sports and Social Club have now closed their doors for the last time and our dojo is to be no more, over 40 years of judo history gone but hopefully some fond memories. Onwards and Upwards as they say, and Christine Evans who owns Harlequins has been very accommodating in helping us to set our club up at her club.

It will take a couple of weeks to settle down but I'm sure things will work out fine, you can even do your shopping will the kids do their training.. ha ha ha..
Make sure you are here for your first week and remember, if you know anyone who wants to start, bring them along. Also, if you used to do judo and was thinking of coming back, the new intermediate class would be great for you..

Look forward to seeing you all soon...

Bill...

UK School Games

Not a bad weekend for Frankie Goulding over 81kg, Tom Williams -81kg and Dru oaks -73kg as they competed at Bath in the UK School Games, representing England. All 3 reached the semi finals with Frankie just losing out by a koka score, this gave Frankie the bronze medal. Some good scalps were taken by Frankie in the earlier rounds, so not a too bad a day for him.

Tom reached the semi's and his opponent was an old adversary but Tom with a much more focused mind this time than the last 2 occasions which he lost took control, won and earned his place in the final. A close fought contest again with a player Tom had met several times, although Tom missed out on gold on this occasion too he was very pleased with his days performance and said he had learnt some valuable lessons.

Dru to earned his place in the finals meeting his co England team mate, this was going to be a tough run out for Dru as he aggrevatted an old shoulder injury and pulled his groin in his earlier fights. Although Dru had performed great through out his earlier matches he found himself hindered by the injuries which took its toll on his performance. Nether the less, a silver for Dru was a good result of a good days fighting.

All in all, a good weekend for the boys, this is the first comp of the season, so gives them a good base for the Heart of England and the Nationals. WELL DONE BOYS!!!