Memorial bench for Halliwell funeral director doused with his favourite whisky tipple

Villagers flocked to the unveiling of a bench in memory of a popular Halliwell funeral director who conducted many of their relatives’ send-offs.

The stone bench outside Halliwell funeral home in Hednesford Road, Heath Hayes records Bill Galvin’s 25-year service to the profession he took up after retiring from the Army.

His widow Gladys pulled back a drape to reveal the inscription during a ceremony conducted by his former colleagues. She then toasted her late husband by pouring a miniature bottle of his favourite whisky over the granite bench.

Bill Galvin who worked at Halliwell for years.

Mr Galvin, a retired Squadron Sergeant Major with the Army Air Corps, who saw active service in the Falklands and Northern Ireland, died aged 66 in March 2017 after a short illness.

Paying tribute to the father-of-two, Halliwell general manager Amanda Woodward described him as ‘her rock’, adding: “I worked with Bill for 10 years and from the moment we met we got on like a house on fire. I enjoyed every moment of working with him. Bill will never be forgotten. He leaves such a gap in our lives and was a wonderful man. He thought so much of this village. We wanted to do something special to remember him. I miss him tremendously.”

Glen Speak, who took over from Mr Galvin as deputy general manager of the funeral service when he retired in 2015, was also present at the event.

Mr Galvin, who was originally from Shotts in Scotland, completed five tours of Northern Ireland during his time with the Army Air Corps, the combat aviation arm of the British Army, whose soldiers wear distinctive blue berets. He also took part in the liberation of the Falklands Islands in 1982. He lived in Heath Hayes for many years and was a well-known character in the area. Amongst those attending the unveiling was Derek Barnbrook, former landlord of the Talbot in Heath Hayes, who was a close friend.

“The Talbot was Bill’s local and everybody knew him. He was a character in his own right and very popular. He did a lot for the community. We used to go to the Villa together.”

Gladys Galvin pictured sitting on the bench in memory of her late husband Bill after being presented with a bouquet of flowers by his former colleagues. Looking on are villagers and Halliwell staff, including general manager Amanda Woodward (second from left) who attended the unveiling in Heath Hayes.

Mr Galvin was proud of his Scottish roots and his adopted county. He referred to himself as a ‘Staffordshire Jock.’ Following the Army he discovered a new vocation after arranging his mother’s funeral and being offered a job at a local funeral home. He joined Tamworth Co-operative Society in 2005 as deputy general manager – a job which involved him working at all its funeral branches, including the Heath Hayes office of Halliwell.

Mrs Galvin, of Heath Hayes, said: “I will come and sit on the bench because it is such a lovely reminder of Bill. He was a complete people person. He used to lead the funeral cortege with his cane, which I keep in the house. He was really graceful with it. I think it was because of his military background. Many people would ask for Bill to conduct their relatives’ funerals. He called me ‘My Gladys’ and meant everything to me.”

Mr Galvin planned his own funeral and included several personal touches including a Scottish piper. His coffin was draped in the Union flag and inscribed with the emblems of his two favourite football clubs – Celtic and Villa.

*Top picture: Gladys Galvin, of Heath Hayes, pours a tot of whisky over a bench erected in memory of her late husband Bill, a funeral director for many years, watched by his friend, Derek Barnbrook (left) and Glen Speak, deputy general manager of Halliwell funeral service.