WILLIAM HOLDSWORTH 1922-1969
 

Bill Holdsworth, 1922-1969

Flight Lieut. William Holdsworth of Scargill House, Kettlewell, Nr. Skipton, Yorkshire
and of Bellinter Park, Navan, Co. Meath, Ireland
1922 - 1969

William Holdsworth was third and youngest son of George Bertram Holdsworth. Like his elder brothers John and Michael, he was educated at Lockers Park, Hemel Hempstead and at Harrow in Newlands House 1936-40, under firstly Rev. D.B. Kittermaster M.C. then F.W.T. James.

Known as 'Bill', William left Harrow in 1940. He worked briefly in an aircraft factory while waiting to join the R.A.F. where he became a Spitfire pilot. He rose to the rank of acting wing commander before serving at R.A.F. Thornhill, Gwelo in Rhodesia where he trained other pilots. Bill fell in love with the country and dreamt of returning there to farm after the war. But then John was killed. His dream fell apart and he was faced with the responsibility of returning to Halifax to take over the business.

Bill was vice-president of the Halifax Textile Society and a past president of the Halifax Fly-Fishing Club of which he was co-founder.
He was also a key member of Kilnsey Angling Club, 1946-1958.
Among his other interests he was past-president of the Upper Wharfedale Agricultural Society.
A keen sportsman, he enjoyed shooting, fishing and farmed extensively in Wharfedale and Ireland.
Bill was vice-president of the Skipton branch of the Royal Air Force Association.

From the Photograph Album

William Holdsworth on 'Ginger' at Catteral Hall	Swimming bath at Lockers Park William Holdsworth on right. ca.1935	The Bentley Mark VI Coupe by Abbott of Farnham Reg. BCP 555
DMH's Austin Atlantic A90, green	Scargill House The Cottages viewed from the house	Scargill and Cottages, 1953
Kettlewell, 1953	Bedford 'Dormobile'	Gwynreta on Norfolk Broads
Gwynreta in Denmark	Gwynreta at Marken, Holland	Bill Holdsworth in Spitfire over Germany
Bill Holdsworth, Didy Holdsworth Terry Spencer's wedding	The Family DWH, JMH, IRH, DMH, KRH, HIH, and 'Flip'1953	DMH, Jack Kuperus, Mrs W.C. Kuperus, Jan van der Sterr on Gwynreta in Amsterdam
DMH, Jack Kuperus, Mrs W.C. Kuperus, Bill Holdsworth on Gwynreta in Amsterdam	Bill Holdsworth and Dina Maria Kuperus, Amsterdam 1946	Bill Holdsworth and Dina Maria Kuperus, Amsterdam 1946
The Civil Wedding, Bill Holdsworth and Dina Maria Kuperus, Amsterdam 1946	Bill Holdsworth and Dina Maria Kuperus, Amsterdam 1946	John Michael Holdsworth
Ingrid Rona Holdsworth	David William Holdsworth	David William Holdsworth
H.R.H. Princess Elizabeth, Lord Mackintosh of Halifax, William Holdsworth ca. 1950
William Holdsworth and family Bill and Didy, Michael, Howard, David, Ingrid & Kirsten (on knee), and Flip. At Scargill House, 1954
William Holdsworth, Bentley Crash, 30 April 1959	William Holdsworth, Bentley Crash, 30 April 1959	William Holdsworth, Announcement of his death, Nov 1969