Bill Fraser was a remarkable Irishman, and a true Christian. He was born on May 14th, 1920 in Sheffield. His dad was a young Scottish soldier and his mother an Irish nurse.
He went to Rathmines National School and then to King's Hospital School. There was no money to send him to college and his first job was counting timber down in Dublin docks. Then he became a rep with Johnson Brothers, and from there joined Jeyes Ireland, where his career flourished, as his marketing instinct developed.
He was a founder member and subsequently chairman of the Incorporated Sales Managers' Association of Ireland, an organisation that was to become the Marketing Institute.
After Jeyes, Bill went to F.A. Wyatt, and then on to the North Dublin Growers Co-operative, where he started the turkey auctions which became so famous in north Co Dublin.
Bill had many other interests. He was an honorary life member of Neptune Rowing club, Royal Dublin Golf Club and Hibernian United Services Club, and was president of Palmerston Rugby Club. He valued his friends highly, and while he was careful in their selection, he was determined in his loyalty.
Bill gave all his spare time to helping people: he was on the board of Harcourt Street Children's Hospital, serving as chairman on several occasions. He also served on the board of Dr Steeven's Hospital, again as chairman, and St James's, from which he resigned only earlier this year. He was also on the board of the Federated Dublin Voluntary Hospitals, again serving as chairman, and he was vice-chairman at the time of his death.
He enjoyed the work in the hospitals: he was a team player who enjoyed walking around listening to the staff and patients, and genuinely cared about their views. If you were lucky enough to be his friend, he "encouraged" you to participate in his good works.
Locally in Howth, he was involved in the founding of Sutton Park school, and also helped to preserve the train line to Howth.
He hated arrogance, greed and selfishness, and genuinely cared about other people's misfortunes.
Bill's first loyalty was to his wife Pat and to his children. He adored Pat from the first time he saw her; she was his companion for nearly 50 years. Pat was tragically killed in a car crash coming back from visiting Bill in hospital, just a month before he died in early September.
He was devastated, but still managed to go to the church on the day of Pat's funeral. He was then determined to get out of hospital and back to the Howth he loved, despite the excellent care he received from his physician, Dr Dick Firth, his surgeon, Mr Tom Corrigan and the nursing staff, particularly those on Our Lady's Ward in the Mater Hospital.
He lived his last days in Brymore Nursing Home, looking over Howth Harbour and the view that he cherished.
To many Bill was a big man; to his family he was a colossus and a large benevolent presence, who was always on their side.
Bill and Pat are now together. They are at peace; and when the remembrance wall and garden are built in St Mary's Church in Howth, their ashes will be reunited, as their spirits had always been united. Their passing has made the world a smaller place.