Farewell mate

One week ago we all bid our farewells to Oor Billy the only fitting way we knew how to.

Thank you to everyone for coming along to make a very sad and emotional day special for him, partner Christine, Daughter Aimee, family and friends. Two levels packed to the rafters for Billy was quite overwhelming to see.

Thank you too for a very fitting service from Willie Evans which must have been challenging knowing Billy so well over the years also cram in a fraction of Billy's antics into 30 minutes.

To John Hunter, Big Rab and all the others guys and gals for assembling a bike guard of honour for Billy's final journey away from the Dreadnought on the day, and Brodies for all their help as ever in coordinating everything.

An excellent spread from Davie Stein and his team kept everyone fed on the day and memorial night. Thanks mate, the pies spot on as ever.

Also to all our staff who helped on the day keep you hydrated, fed or simply hung up a jacket.

Well done team.

Finally thank you too for all the comments (and cuddles) on the day, and days after we received which helped in more ways than you could ever think.

I think the Dreadnought family did him proud.

Although Billy is no longer with us his music will always live on at the club and with everyone he touched (and tortured) with it over the last 50 plus years leaving one hell of a legacy which we only scraped the surface on in the memorial night following.

It was again just staggering to see so many come along to reminisce, enjoy the music, chat and see so many familiar faces from the last 50 plus years still able to come along and enjoy a night oot. Don't be a stranger in the future or forget what HAW means lol.

The Collections on the day being split to Dogs Trust and Wall to Wall Music totalled £2054.58. I know both will put the money to work in looking after all the pups looking for their next forever home and help the next generation of musicians in West Lothian.

The Live stream was watched all over the world (New Zealand and Australia being the furthest away) which is another testimony how loved oor Billy was not just in Bathgate.

I was able to record the live stream of the service but I'm afraid wasn't able to clean up or edit down the music played on the night at the memorial night as the focus was on the music on the night upstairs and down.

I have put together a page of Billy on our website for those who missed the service and the music that we played through the night and past favourites via our deezer platform that will give snippets of the songs in the player but if you hit the wee deezer logo will give you the full versions.

https://www.dreadnoughtrock.co.uk/billyspage

Alan, Douglas and the Rock Crew at the Dread.