In his 13 years as chair of trustees at Hospitality Action, William oversaw strong growth in charitable grant-giving, with almost £10m awarded to beneficiaries during his tenure. Under his guidance, Hospitality Action’s benevolence has touched many thousands of hospitality households.
At the 2017 Public Sector Catering Awards William was named as the Contract Catering Lifetime Achievement Award winner for his services to the industry.
Mark Lewis, chief executive of Hospitality Action said: "William’s generosity and warmth of spirit was unparalleled. He brought the same joie de vivre to his chairing of Hospitality Action as he did to every other aspect of his life. Being around William for any length of time taught you a valuable lesson: live life to the full, and do good to others.
“William was an inspiring leader, and always encouraged us to be brave and to innovate. It’s no exaggeration to say that the lives of many thousands of hospitality families have been improved as a direct result of his dedication to Hospitality Action. I shall miss William’s wise counsel, his wit, and his friendship. He was loved, admired and respected by everyone who met him. It was a privilege to work with him. My thoughts and love go to Fiona and the family. Rest in peace, Bill.”
Robin Mills, managing director of Compass Group, commented: "We have lost one of the giants of the food service industry. I had the privilege of knowing Bill both professionally and personally. He was a hugely generous individual, full of warmth and good humour.
"He leaves behind a lasting legacy not only in our industry, but also through the enormous amount of time he spent supporting charities and his local community. He was wonderful company and will be sorely missed. My thoughts are with his wife and family at this time, of whom he was so proud."