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Vale
Bill Bruce Snr.
29 . 3 . 1954 - 13 . 3 .2010
The President, Committee Members, Members
and supporters
regret the passing of our former President 2003 - 2005
Bill Bruce Snr.
Billy passed away peacefully on Saturday 13th March 2010 at 2.00am
after long illness.
Billy is survived by Trish, Billy Jnr. and Lisa.
Eulogy
By Dean Walton
Secretary SFC 2010
WHEN I WAS ASKED BY TRISH TO SAY A FEW WORDS,
RELATING TO BILL’S FOOTY LIFE I THOUGHT WHERE DO I START.
IT WOULD BE REMISS OF ME NOT TO MENTION BILL’S
FOOTBALL LIFE FIRSTLY,
FROM A SEAFORD JUNIOR FOOTBALL CLUB PERSPECTIVE,
AND SECONDLY FROM A SEAFORD SENIOR CLUB PERSPECTIVE,
SPANNING OVER A 20 PLUS YEARS OF ASSOCIATION.
JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME SORT OF IDEA,
BILL HAS HELD SO MANY DIFFERENT ROLES AT THE JUNIOR CLUB OVER SO MANY
YEARS
RANGING FROM, COACH,
TEAM MANAGER,
BAR MANAGER,
JNR LIASON
OFFICER,
AND VARIOUS ROLES ON THE EXECUTIVE,
AND I SHOULD MENTION BILL’S SUNDAY NIGHT RITUAL HIDING IN THE BAR
EATING ONE OF MELISSA BEARMANS FAMOUS DESERTS,
SORRY TRISH ITS TIME YOU WERE TOLD, AND BY THE WAY I NEVER PLAYED A PART
IN THAT.
FITTINGLY IN 2000 BILL WAS AWARDED LIFE MEMBERSHIP OF HIS BELOVED JUNIOR
CLUB,
I PERSONALLY KNOW HOW PROUD BILL WAS OF THIS HONOR,
BECAUSE WE BOTH SHARED THE SAME HONOR ON THE SAME DAY, IN THE SAME YEAR,
THIS CREATED A BOND AND FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN BILL AND I THAT I WILL ALWAYS
CHERISH.
THE SECOND STAGE TO BILL’S FOOTBALL LIFE INVOLVED
THE SEAFORD SENIOR FOOTBALL CLUB,
AND AS USUAL BILL WAS HAPPY TO HELP IN ANY ROLE,
MOST IMPORTANTLY AT A TIME WHEN THE CLUB NEEDED SOME GUIDANCE,
BILL PUT HIS HAND UP TO STEER THE CLUB AS PRESIDENT.
OTHER ROLES INCLUDED JNR LIASON OFFICER WHICH BILL LOVED BECAUSE
IT REPRESENTED LOOKING AFTER BOTH THE SENIOR, AND JUNIOR CLUBS.
BILL IMPLEMENTED A STRUCTURE TO ENCOURAGE THE JUNIORS TO PLAY SENIORS,
THIS HAS PLAYED A SIGNIFCANT ROLE IN THE SENIOR CLUBS RECENT SUCCESS.
OTHER MAJOR ROLES BILL HAS HELD FOR BOTH CLUBS,
WAS AS OUR OFFICIAL PIPER, ANY FLAG UNVEILING BILL WOULD PLAY THE
BAGPIPES WITH PRIDE,
THIS ROLE HAS ALSO SPANNED OVER A 20 YEAR ASSOCIATION.
NOW I’LL LET YOU IN ON A LITTLE SECRET...
AFTER EVERY PERFORMANCE I WOULD WHISPER IN BILL’S EAR,
DID YOU PLAY A WRONG NOTE, IN WHICH BILL WOULD WHISPER BACK
WITH THE SAME RESPONSE EVERYTIME,
YOU MUST BE THE ONLY PERSON OF WELSH DECENT, I KNOW THAT IS TONE DEAF.
" I HAVE NEVER PLAYED A WRONG NOTE IN MY LIFE "
TO DAVID TELFORD BILL’S PROTEGE,
WHO WILL OFFICIALLY TAKE ON THE ROLE OF SEAFORDS PIPER,
DAVID PLAYED AT OUR FLAG UNVEILING LAST YEAR AND
WHILST HANDING THE MANTLE TO DAVID AS HE PLAYED,
BILL TURNED TO ME AND SAID IN THE DRYEST MANNER POSSIBLE,
" NOW I USED TO PLAY JUST LIKE THAT "
DAVID THEY ARE BIG SHOES TO FILL.
IT WOULD BE FAIR TO SAY BILL LOVED HIS FOOTY,
HE LOVED WATCHING BILLY JNR PLAY, AND HE LOVED WATCHING
THE PLAYERS PROGRESS FROM JUNIORS TO SENIORS,
BILL REPRESENTED, HONESTY,
INTEGRITY,
AND LOYALTY,
BILL MADE MANY FRIENDS THROUGH FOOTBALL WHICH IS EVIDENT TODAY,
AND BOTH CLUBS ARE BETTER FOR IT.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE OVER THE YEARS BILL AND I HAVE HAD MANY
CONVERSATIONS,
SOME ABOUT FOOTY,
AND SOME
ABOUT LIFE IN GENERAL, WE HAVE SHARED LAUGHTER AND TEARS,
BUT MOST OF ALL WE HAVE SHARED A FRIENDSHIP THAT WILL ENDURE THE TEST OF
TIME.
TO TRISH, LISA, AND BILLY
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT ON BILL’S LIFE.
REST IN PEACE MATE.
Dean Walton and Bill in 2003
Billy, your legacy at Tigerland will always be in our heart.
Our heartfelt condolences to Trish, Billy Jnr, Lisa and all the family.
Rest In Peace
Tahir, Mia, Rizwan Kamali and Indriati
Successful clubs and communities owe it to the committed and passionate people
that contribute to them in so many ways.
Today we lost one of our greats and need to all commit to strive that little bit harder
to continue Bills legacy in any way we can.
Bill, rest peacefully mate, knowing that all your efforts and struggles
have been worthwhile and will always be appreciated.
Condolences to the Bruce family
Russell O'Brien
A true gentleman who will be sadly missed
Robin Date
Very sad news, great bloke!
Nathan Tyers
Lovely man. true gentleman RIP Billy
Jo Walton
Seaford FC in mourning. RIP Billy Bruce
Snr.
Jane Caroline Marshall
Sad news!
Natalie Beattie
Billy- It was a pleasure to have known
you. Now you have no more pain, rest in peace.
Those bagpipes will always play on...
Tina Miller
Very sad news....the club will
not be the same without Billy and his bagpipes
Mia Harun
Billy in full gear.... Flag
raising at first home game 2007
Billy with Glen and Kim Edgerton after Grand Final 2009
Bill and David Telford - Flag Raising 1st Game 2009
The Piper Played His Last Lament,
His Tunes Will Live To Hunt Us,
And In His Place Of Eternal Rest,
He Played The Last Victorious.
Our Lives Are Filed With Memories,
God Bless His Life Of Melodies.
More Tribute at
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