December 28, 1938 - September 28, 2022
Gone in a puff of smoke and a few ashes.
Bill was born in Liverpool to Ewart and Dr. Nancy Whitehead. He was the eldest of five children.
He was brought up in England, first in Bromborough, then Birkenhead and from age nine to eighteen was at boarding school in Ellesmere. He was then admitted to Liverpool Medical School graduating in 1965. He completed his medical training in general surgery and medicine at Whiston General Hospital where he also completed terms in Emergency Medicine and Burns and Plastic Surgery. He then took a position as the junior of three physicians at Pilkington Glass Company in St. Helens. While there he successfully completed the course in Industrial Medicine at Manchester University.
In 1971 he, his first wife and two sons emigrated to Canada so that he could take up a position as a Medical Advisor with the Workmen's Compensation Board of BC. He was eventually promoted to Vice President of Prevention Services before resigning and returning to work as a Medical Advisor in1993 until his retirement in 2008.
Bill worked for several years as a part time medical officer for the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada and as an Associate Professor of Occupational Medicine at UBC. He was also an examiner for the Canadian Board of Occupational Medicine.
On his retirement he moved to Qualicum Beach where he helped his wife Rosslyn develop and maintain a 2 acre garden until he suffered a stroke in 2015. He then joined the Oceanside Stroke Recovery Society becoming a member of the executive.
Bill is predeceased by his sister Sally and brothers Michael and Robert.
Bill is survived by his loving wife and best friend Rosslyn, four children Adrian, Jonathan, Lisa and Nichola (Craig Dickson), two grandsons Ronan and Arran and one sister Elizabeth.