Bill’s engineering story began at school, where he excelled in mathematics and physics. From a young age, he was engrossed by such diverse skills as woodwork, learnt in his grandfather’s workshop, and the aerodynamics of the Second World War fighter planes that flew over his childhood home in South Wales. As he grew into adulthood, Bill developed a keen interest in bridges, technology, steel, teamwork, surveying, racing cars, sketching and photography. His chosen career required huge intellect, courage and an ethos of hard work. All of these came naturally to Bill.

It was Bill’s range of skills that culminated in the creation of several innovative schemes for long-span suspension bridges in steel. He would work in pencil at a drawing board, where clarity of thought and complex calculations were at the centre of a multitude of tasks. Years of knowledge, experience and ideas came together in bridge designs and schemes. He had a liberal mind and saw everyone as equal.