A Brother’s Eulogy
by Neil Hart
Where do I start? Two boys and a sister Edna, born in a council flat on East Hill, ‘Wandsworf’ to a house painter and decorator and a cleaning lady. Themselves two of the most honest hard-working people you could ever meet.
I fondly remember in my infancy when Bill was about 15, I was 4, that Bill and possibly Edna took me to see ‘Alice in Wonderland’ the Walt Disney version, at the flicks. Apparently Bill always told the story that I cried all the way through because I didn’t like the flamingoes being used as croquet mallets.
He also used to take me up in my pram to ‘Wandsworf’ Common for a kick about with his mates. How’s that for brotherly bonding? I didn’t join in of course……
Not a lot of people knew it but Bill was, in his spare time, a very good model maker – who would have thought that Bill, of all people, would have the patience for such hobbies?
We always shared a room on East Hill SW18, until he left, I think, to join the army. As a kind, sharing brother, I passed on the mumps to Bill so he was confined to our bedroom for 2 weeks or so.
Being bored, Bill somehow found himself building about 6 or so of those balsa wood and tissue model aircraft kits that one could make and fly via a rubber band and propeller. To cut a long story short, after 2 weeks of hard work on Bill’s part, he drove us both up to Wimbledon Common, with all the models in the boot, to test them out, on a lovely summer’s evening and to celebrate his recovery.
Well, they all took off well but all nose dived, one after the other in a pile of balsa wood and tissue paper. Two weeks’ patient work destroyed in a half hour.
That evening, both the Hart brothers gave up any further attempts at emulating the Wright brothers……………………………
Bill passed his eleven plus and went off to Battersea Grammar school in Streatham, two bus rides away, where he excelled in his studies, so much so, that he was elevated by two years by the head. Truth be known, Bill was probably a Mensa candidate. His mind and memory were so sharp that he was a winner at countless pub quizzes, in addition to being an excellent scholar.
Bill and Gill were both lively, intelligent youngsters and Bill had a very successful school career both educationally and sporting-wise. Playing both soccer and cricket for his school 1st elevens, far earlier than most.
Specialising in sciences, Bill passed his A levels early with excellent grades and took scholarship level in, I believe, chemistry. He also passed Latin at O Level, in one year, to ensure his place at Pharmacy College.
After his 6th form education Bill was originally going to medical college. Well, it’s fortunate that, due to a lack of parental funding, he decided to go to Chelsea school of pharmacy as it came to light that he not only hated the sight of blood, but he couldn’t be around sick people either. As some may know, a hospital visit by Bill usually lasted around 5-10 minutes!!
What a great choice pharmacy was, as the story unfolds……………….
Bill’s career, after two years’ national service, as staff sergeant, then a couple of further years in pharmacy, took him to St James’s SW1 at D R Harris pharmacy as manager and pharmacist to the queen mother at Clarence House. Bill always liked a claim to fame!!
However, the greatest result of Bill’s arrival in St James’s, as some may know, is that a certain Gillian Heath worked just around the corner and had, even before the arrival of W H Hart Esq, frequented the dispensary!!
So here we have the beautiful young secretary meeting the handsome pharmacist across the counter….
I don’t know whether it was love at first sight but I do know that Gill bought around 2 years’ supply of shampoo and toothpaste, not cheap in St James’s, within a month of their first encounter!!
After a while of course, the handsome chemist asked the beautiful secretary out on a date. As they say, the rest is history.
Bill later told me that he had been wary of inviting Gill out earlier because he was shy. Well, I don’t think anybody in this building would ever have accused Bill of shyness!!
Gill was a terrific foil for Bill. She was gentle, kind and supremely understanding. So much so that, in summer, Bill continued to play cricket twice a weekend into his early 40’s
I believe this was the reason their marriage lasted 60 years. ‘Give and take’. The ‘give’ being mostly by Gill.
Well, they married in Harrow and it’s lovely to see Ray Watson, Bill’s best man here today, which I think shows Bill and Ray’s loyalty to each other.
As a married couple, Bill and Gill went on to have two lovely kids and four grandchildren. Of whom they were immensely proud.
Bill, not the most patient of men, another good reason for not going into doctoring, was genuine, hardworking, loyal and outspoken, to say the least, but this came from the passionate approach he had to all things he did or worked on.
One of his attributes, due to a wartime upbringing, was ensuring everything had value. To the point of appearing ‘careful’!!
In fact, as marketing director of Unichem Limited, which he played a major role in developing into a plc, Bill created the ‘pointer to value’ device, in the form of a horizontal thermometer, which became a high street symbol on pharmacies up and down the country.
I even understand that poor Steve and Sue were forced, on more than one occasion, to wear Unichem tee shirts bearing the ‘pointer to value’ logo and march around singing a special ‘Unichem’ anthem! The sheer enthusiasm of the man!
Some of Gill and Bill’s oldest and dearest friends are here today. May I thank you all on behalf of the family for making the journey from far and wide. It demonstrates the love and affection you have for a couple of the nicest people you could wish to meet – even though Bill may have attempted to rub you up the wrong way – I can assure you, it was just his way!!
Lastly, Bill was a top class brother at all times to Edna and me and we couldn’t have wished for a better one. Our sister-in-law Gill was simply a ‘lovely lady’ and how lucky we were that they met one day in St James’s.
Rest in peace, Gill and Bill