Bill Wallis     1923-2010 MG Car Club President

It is with great sadness that I must inform you all that MG Car Club President Bill Wallis died on the 22nd August after an illness, borne with great fortitude.

Bill was an enthusiastic supporter of the MG Car Club and a friend to many since joining in 1949. In his long association with the Midland Centre Bill tried most aspects of motor sport except actual racing.

He was at one time very active in auto-testing and was an RAC scrutineer for 10 years. As an RAC Rally Marshall for 22 years he did everything from administration at HQ to standing in the snow on
Welsh mountains.

Bill served with distinction as Chairman of the Club from 1980 to 1985 but he will be remembered most for his role as our President, a post that he has filled in every sense of the word since 1996.

In writing this tribute to Bill I referred back to a Personality Profile I wrote about him three years ago. In it I wrote;

Bill is the staunchest of supporters of the Club and all it tries to achieve. He is unassuming, knowledgeable, approachable, friendly and professional but above all, wise

Looking back now these words defined the man and what he has meant to his many, many MG friends.

His passing leaves a huge void in the Club but his wisdom and kindness will live on as an example of what being a member of the MG Car Club should be all about.

The Club motto is Te Marque of Friendship but to Bill it was a code of conduct which he tried to live by and instil in all members.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his ever supporting wife June and his daughter Louise and family at this
sad time.

John Day
MG Car Club Chairman
23 August 2010

A full tribute to Bill will feature in October's edition of SafetyFast!