It's with a heavy heart and a through a veil of tears that I have to announce the passing of my dear mum who died yesterday after a long and difficult illness. I'm devastated.
I can't write more right now, it's too raw, but when the emotional pain eases a little I'll try and put a journal entry together to explain what has happened in the last couple of weeks.
Mum was known, loved and respected by the entire Nelsonica team and the fans who knew her from various Nelsonica events over the years. As you can imagine, I'm feeling the loss very deeply and I'll miss her profoundly.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family sir. I am sorry for your loss.
So sorry for you Bill, and the family. Bless your lovely Mum x
When my father died, your music gave me so much consolation. I am sure this has been true for so many of us. May the kind thoughts of your fans do the same for you Bill.
I don’t know what to say except that I’m thinking of you and I feel your pain,my own beloved father passed recently and it turned my whole life upside down.
much love- Kristin ♥
My deepest condolences to you and your family Bill for the loss of your mum. Having read so many heartfelt tributes from those that knew her or met her it‘s very clear that she was a special lady. May she Rest in Peace. Take care as best you can during these worrying times. Mic
Death is nothing at all,
I have only slipped away into the next room
I am I, and you are you.
Whatever we were to each other
That we are still.
Call me by my old familiar name,
Speak to me in the easy way you always used.
Put no difference into your tone,
Wear no forced air of solemnity, or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed
At the little jokes we always enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was
Let it be spoken without effort,
Without the ghost of a shadow in it.
Life means all that it ever meant,
It is the same as it ever was.
There is absolute unbroken continuity,
What is death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind
Because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you for an interval,
Somewhere very near,
Just around the corner
All is well.
Nothing is past; nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it was before
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!
Canon Henry Scott-Holland, 1847-1918, Canon of St Paul's Cathedral
Incredibly sorry to hear of your mum passing. We went through a similar experience at the start of 2019 with my 98 year old mother-in-law. Who after a year in and out of hospital for no reason other than old age, picked up an infection on the day it was agreed, after much battling, she could go into a care home. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Thinking about Bill and his family's sadness...it's gonna take a lot of time. My dad passed a couple of years ago - so I know how it feels in a sense. I hope the spark of creativity resumes at some point for my musical hero.
Bill, I send sympathies and love to you and your family.
Dear Bill. My sincere condolences to you and your family. 'Kia kaha' (stay strong), as we say in New Zealand.
Bill, may I express my deepest condolences on the sad passing of your dear mum.
It was June 1990 when you were playing the concert at Wakefield Cathedral with Ian that I had the fortune & privilege to find myself sitting next to your mum and meeting her for the first time. We chatted after your performance and she was genuinely interested in how far I’d travelled to be there. I’d travelled up to Yorkshire the previous Saturday for your performance at Thornes Park as part of the Wakefield Arts Festival and we had a wonderful, relaxed and flowing conversation about the places I’d stayed and Yorkshire landmarks I’d visited during my week in the county. It was just like chatting with a friend or relative; I was completely taken aback with how lovely, caring and considerate she was; what with me being a complete stranger and initially our only common ground being her son’s music.
After the concert and you emerged from the rear entrance of the Cathedral, your mum was straight over to give you a big, warm hug and tell you how much she’d enjoyed the performance. It was quite clear from that moment in time I witnessed, just a tiny bit of the love you both shared and that has made you the person you are.
Back at that time I was also privileged to be able to call Ian a friend, having established the relationship and been in regular contact on the phone for a few years since his Fiat Lux days; a few hundred miles between our respective homes unfortunately making physical meeting logistically impossible, apart from at his concert performances.
I lost my dad and grandparents some years ago but thank the heavens for every day I still have my 88 year old mum and siblings. With both your brother Ian and now your dear mum having left this mortal world, I can’t begin to contemplate your current emotions but hope that maybe after the rawness has healed to some extent in the weeks and months to come, you will find some solace in the thought, they will now be together.
My heartfelt thoughts are with you, Julia, Elle & Elliot for the loss of their beloved gran / nanny and also Emiko for her loss of I’m sure the best mum-in-law she could ever have wished for.
David
I've wondered sometimes if there was a particular piece of music that Bill's mother really liked by Bill, a piece that really clicked, where she acknowledged it, more than the others.
Bill, please accept my deepest condolences. While I never met your mother, your stories of her have painted a portrait of a wonderful woman. The round of applause she received at the 2018 Plectronica was very touching and telling of the respect your fans had for her. May her memory always bring you comfort, Jim
We are so sorry to hear about your mum. Our condolences. Bruce and Linda
Been in touch with MG. He wishes to convey his deepest condolences.
Thinking of you at this very sad time Bill and Emiko x
Sorry to hear your sad news Bill. I lost my Mother 7 years ago and I still miss her!
So sorry Bill. My thoughts are will you all. God bless.
Alan
Deepest condolences
Bill, Not sure what to say here. It was very obvious that your Mum held a special place in your heart...and still does. Any photos, videos or letters from her will seem all the more precious with the passing of time. Please stay strong, and in this highly unusual and difficult situation that we're facing, be extra careful.
Love, Robert
Bill, so very sorry for you & your family. Never easy. Just remember that she will always be with you. She is a part of you. You will always have her.
.
Thinking of you and all your family at this very sad time...
Every possible good wish.
My condolences
Sorry to hear this.I found it more difficult losing my second parent.I remember the round of applause that she got a the cloth makers hall a couple of years
So sorry Bill. I recall the story you recounted recently about how your dear mum walked you from your home on Eastmoor to St Johns Junior school, there and back every day. Such love between you.
Sincere condolences to you and all the family at this deeply sad time.
Bill, we all know that you are hurting badly. Losing ones Mum is a truly dark period in our lives but you should take some comfort in knowing she lived to a grand age and well cared for in her final years. A proud and happy lady who I missed the chance of meeting.
My deepest condolences to you and all your family at this sad time
Dave
I'm so sorry, Bill. Major empathy for you and yours at this time.
Very sorry to learn of this this evening, Bill.
You did right by your Mum. You stood by her throughout.
Condolences to you and Emi. 'Pod
So sorry to hear this Bill thinking about you at this sad time, Gary.
My deepest sympathies.
Condolences are not enough. You can take solace that she is in a better place, pain free, and smiling. You and her are in my prayers. She has had a wonderful, long and adventurous life. Just what you have shared, it seemed an ideal childhood. That is all attributable to your Mum. Find peace and know that she was so proud of you Dr. Bill. She got to see it all.
Michael
Hello Bill,
Sincere condolences to you at this very sad time. Your mum was from the same generation as my late father and I think perhaps living through a world war instilled a mentality of fighting until the very end. I'm sure that she was proud of you and Ian, and that's a great thing for a parent.
Condolences to the rest of your family.
RIP Bill's mum.
Roger
So sorry to hear of your loss, Bill. Condolences to you and your family at this sad time.
My thoughts are with you.
Much love to you and your family.
Bill,
Our condolences to you and your family on the passing of your Mum. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Tom & Judy
Deepest condolences to all the family.
Dear Bill, I am deeply saddened by the passing of you mother. Sending much love and many hugs to you and Emiko and your entire family.
Thoughts and prayers to you and yours Bill
Dear Bill & Emiko,
Please accept my most sincere condolences, my prays and thoughts are with you both.
It is such a beautiful photograph and your Mum looks like a lovely lady.
Such a sad time
I am terribly sorry for your loss, Bill. I had the pleasure of meeting your mum on a couple of occasions, and she was indeed a lovely woman, very sweet and very proud of you. (I once asked her if it was strange to see a crowd of people gathered to celebrate her son, and she sweetly said "Well, he's a wonderful boy.") My thoughts and my heart are with you and the whole family. Big hugs.
A lovely photograph, that says it all.
Very sorry to hear your sad news Bill...the end of an era.
Sometimes it can help to imagine what your mum would tell you, the gentle advice she would offer you, when you feel lost during the difficult times ahead.
Thinking of you
Nick and Audrey.
My deepest sympathy, Bill.
Take care of yourself and Emiko at this dreadful time.
My deepest condolences, Bill. So sorry to hear this news. I thought she
was finally coming out of the woods. My thoughts a prayers are with
you.
So sorry to hear the news condolences
AW BILL, SO UPSET FOR YOU AT THIS TIME IN YOUR LIFE. AS YOU KNOW, I HAD A DEEP AFFECTION FOR YOUR MOTHER. I MET HER AT NUMEROUS NELSONIC EVENTS AND FOUND HER TO BE SUCH A LOVELY PERSON, SO WILLING TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HER BELOVED SONS. SHE STRUCK SUCH A DEEP CHORD IN MY THOUGHTS ABOUT MY OWN MUM ALSO. SHE WILL BE SORELY MISSED AND I SHALL REMEMBER HER FONDLY. X
Very sorry Bill ... much love ❤️
steve x
Sorry to hear this Bill.
My deepest condolences and a virtual hug...