Bill on the till still a wonder at age of 101
ARUNCORN volunteer who turned 101 years old this week has revealed his tips for a long and happy life – smoking a pipe, having a glass of whisky and having the right genes too.
Bill Armes still helps out seven hours a day, three days a week at Halton Play Council which sells crafts and games to help children and additional needs.
He previously did five days a week but was offered the chance to reduce to three to spend more time with Runcorn Veterans Association, which is also holding a birthday lunch for its oldest member, indefatigable Bill having served in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in the Second World War.
This week he is also having a family celebration and being feted by colleagues at Halton Play Council in the town centre. He was also due to receive a birthday visit from Halton mayor Alan Lowe.
Originally from Bootle and later Litherland, Bill moved to Runcorn in 1960 and has become a town legend, earning the monicker ‘Bill on the till who’s never off ill’ from Radio Merseyside presenter Tony Snell.
Last year when he turned 100, he was picked as the guest of honour for the relaunch of Runcorn Shopping City when it reverted to its original name and has also picked up a slew of borough and county awards in recog- nition of his indefatigability, having been named Halton man of the year, Cheshire man of the year, star citizen of Chester and volunteer of the year.
He has now been volunteering for decades, shunning the boredom of sitting at home and instead enjoying the social life of customers and colleague banter in the store which funds play equipment and services for children with additional needs.
Bill was recruited to the play council 31 years ago when his long service as a leader with the Scouts came to an end and following his retirement from work as a credit controller.
Since then his various roles have included carving toys and games for the charity using his woodwork skills.
Along the way he has overcome challenges and personal ordeals to keep smiling and being active, first helping to beat the Nazis in the 1940s and then when he was robbed in his own home in Halton Brook aged 93, during which he suffered bruising but refused to be bullied or give them any money and instead attacked one of the two lowlifes with his walking stick then wrestled the other for control of it. Joyce Reilly, Halton Play Council manager, said she thinks staying active has contributed to his longevity.
But when asked what he thinks has been the key to living so long, Bill said: “Smoking a pipe and on the whisky every night.
“I think it’s in the genes – my sister is the baby of the family and she’s 85. “We’re all long lived.” He also credited his till shifts with ● having a good quality of later life, adding: “At the weekend I get bored, I prefer being down here meeting people, nice people, we don’t meet any bad ones do we.”
Asked whether he had any advice for others who might consider volunteering, he said: “Volunteer as much as they can for the simple reason is it’s very rewarding, you meet people.”
He has also managed to stay upbeat even after being robbed.
Recounting his encounter with the robbers, who were caught and sent down for five and eight years, he said: “They wanted money but I wouldn’t give it to them, they knocked me around a bit, I had bruises, they broke my glasses. I said everything was in the kitchen and I had a couple of walking sticks, I grabbed one of the walking sticks and went for the eldest.
“The DS (Detective Sergeant) asked ‘where did you hit him’, I said ‘on his left shoulder – I missed, I was aiming for his collar bone’.”
Joyce said: “It’s not put you off, you’ve stayed engaged, you haven’t to let them win.” ●