The construction industry luncheon society based in North London
Founded in 1984
Obituary for a much loved POETS' member - by Dave Wilkinson
WILLIAM McPHERSON BROOKS MACKAY
15th December 1958 - 27th August 2018
William McPherson Brooks Mackay, known to most of us as Bill or Billy born on the 15th December 1958 in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland lost his gallant fight against Lung Cancer at UCLH Marylebone on the 27th August 2018 and his funeral on the 12th September was packed to the rafters with family and friends; a testament to his popularity.
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A selfless Scotsman, Bill, an only child, and his parents emigrated south of the border to Twickenham in Middlesex, probably whistling “Oh flower of Scotland” all the way. An ardent Glasgow Rangers supporter and never one to support his adopted nation against any other country, Bill would wind up his friends and colleagues with renditions of the famous tune, although out of tune and never with the correct words! Bill was eventually anglicised and became a season ticket holder at Tottenham Hotspur FC. Whilst being treated at North Middlesex Hospital Bill was delighted that his bed overlooked the new North London Behemoth. He would also tell anyone that was prepared to listen how he himself had a brief foray as a semi professional footballer, playing for Brentford in the lower leagues. However, he was prone to injury and that put paid to his football career.
After an uneventful secondary education his careers officer set up three local interviews, Hy-ten Reinforcement Company being one of them and always the charmer he managed to get selected at his first attempt. Bill started work there on 27th September 1975 aged 17 and as they say, the rest is history; Bill’s career success and his reasoning that he couldn’t be that lucky twice saw him rise through the ranks to become Sales Director. Bill was the archetypal one company man.
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He met the love of his life, Lyndsey, on a boy’s on tour holiday in 1982 in Majorca, and after courting for a few years married in August 1985. They were the ideal couple enjoying life to the full, and when Lyndsey was diagnosed with breast cancer the numerous treatments destroyed any hope of having the children they would have adored. However, they were invited to become god parents to their friends/neighbours, Keith & Denise Woods’ children. They proudly accepted and treated the boys as their own, Bill especially giving the boys a lot of his time on the pitch.
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Tragically Lyndsey died in May 2014 and Bill was never the same without her. That day a light went out in Bill’s eyes… and inconceivably he was also diagnosed with lung cancer the following year.
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Bill was a much-liked and well respected member of the construction industry sales community and attended many functions and events, networking amongst his peers to encourage a better trading environment, less austere, more service driven industry.
A committed member of numerous luncheon societies, from the NELS to the Trenchers, and of course the POETS, where he held the office of Secretary for many years. Prior to 2014 Bill had a zest for life and spent many a weekend entertaining in the company of friends, colleagues and associates alike.
During his illness, Bill remained stoic throughout many gruelling treatments and until recently never considered the end was near, in fact during his last month he attempted to corner the market for “smooth” orange juice from his hospital bed and his appreciation of the nursing staff will be remembered for his complete intolerance of anything less than perfect treatment
After numerous bouts of cancer treatments, some of which were extremely debilitating, Bill passed away on Bank Holiday Monday, 27th August 2018 at UCLH in Marylebone with his family and close friends at his bedside.
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Words courtesy of Dave Wilkinson