William Alfred Bossom (6 Sep 1933 - 19 Aug 2023)

In loving memory of William Alfred Bossom who sadly passed away on 19th August 2023

Bill was born on 6th September 1933 in Gillingham, Kent. He had a beloved older sister Audrey. His parents had met in Newfoundland, Canada, when his father, also William Alfred, was stationed there in the Royal Navy. His mother, Miriam Mabel, was a local Newfie girl who relocated to the UK for love.

As a child of the Second World War, he and Audrey were packed off to a posh house in the countryside but didn’t pass muster and were sent back - dad always said it was because he dropped crumbs everywhere when they took tea with her ladyship!

They lived in Lower Gillingham and Bill enjoyed the freedom of being able to head down to Riverside and lark about with his mates, jumping off the old boats into the river and getting up to all sorts! They’d take their bikes and cycle off for hours and miles having adventures.

He was a grammar school boy and did his National Service in the RAF. There were a couple of trips to Newfoundland by ship to visit the Canadian arm of the family.

He met his beloved Marion when they were both working for Reeds paper mill in Aylesford. They got married in September 1960 and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2010. They had 4 daughters, Deborah, Nicola, Melanie and Samantha. Nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren followed over the years.

After Reeds, Bill worked for BICC and then changed course from business to become a lecturer at Mid Kent College, where he stayed till he retired.

Bill was a devoted family man. He loved to spend time in the garden at City Way, which he loved always. There were swings and climbing frame and lots of time spent having fun. Trips to the beach on summer weekends and holidays on the south coast or Wales in the caravan ‘Arbara’.

Bill had a great, fun sense of humour and loved silly verse, the sillier the better. He was a great story teller and had a favourite character he created called Sally Nick Nack. He’d regale us with these tales at bedtime and also made up an elephant that lived at the bottom of the garden. He continued this on with the grandchildren.

Bill was a kind, caring, humorous, intelligent man. He engaged everyone he met.