London City Airport Consultative Committee

Bill Dunlop

A sad loss to the work of the Committee

The Committee learned with great sorrow of the death of its Vice Chairman, Bill Dunlop, on 2nd March 2009, aged 85

Bill was a member of the Consultative Committee since its inception in July 1987. He first represented the former Andrews Street Tenants Association but when the TA was wound up he was invited by the Airport to be the Committee’s Vice Chairman.

During the war Bill was in the Army and he had many stories to tell about his time with the British 2nd Army. He took part in the opposed landings at Walcheren in September/October 1944 as part of the drive to open the important port of Antwerp. He then then fought his way across Holland into north-west Germany.

For much of his working life Bill was a bus driver for London Transport and by way of a tribute East London Buses provided a Routemaster of the kind driven by Bill to take mourners to and from the funeral from the Airport which is just a stone's throw away from Bill’s home in Parker Street, Silvertown.

Bill was a leader in his community and fought hard to ensure they received the best possible deal.  He was for many years a member of the local Labour Party and he served two spells at the Town Hall representing the people of Custom House. First elected in 1964, he spent a total of 18 years on the council before quitting in 1986.

He was a keen photographer of the docks and the local area and his work well records the history of the local area. There are two of his pictures of the Noise Page on this site.

Animals were important to Bill. For many years he was a leading light in the Newham Riding School & Association which operated first near his home under the arches of the former Silvertown Viaduct and then in its new home at Beckton. And he could be seen out each day exercising his beloved dog Lottie who did much to fill the deep hole left following the death of his wife Elsie

At Bill's funeral service the Airport's Chief Exective, Richard Gooding, said:

"The airport and its consultative committee played a large part in Bill’s life. From his position as an elected councillor for the area he saw before most people the airport’s potential to support regeneration of the area after the docks closed. He became an enthusiastic supporter and promoter of the airport. That did not mean he was a pushover. Oh no! He fought like a tiger to ensure benefits for local people promoting sound insulation, and importantly the re-skilling and employment of the local working community.

"Bill had many other interests, his experiences in World War 2 and the comrades he maintained contact with, his family, Maureen and Julia, and of course the lovely Lottie who kept him young after Elsie’s passing. Perhaps he will be best remembered by generations of children for his work in founding the Newham Riding School, initially under the arches at Silvertown, and later at their new site in Beckton.

"Bill used to phone me regularly; I am sure he spotted me turning up for work from his home in Parker Street. He used to call just before 9 either to tip me off or tell me off. The thing about those calls was he always had a valid point. I shall miss those calls, particularly the humour and gossip.

"Many of my colleagues shared a cup of tea with Bill in Parker Street, to the point where I realised he knew much more about what was going on at the airport than I did."

Consultative Committee Secretary Stuart Innes said:

"I first came across Bill when I joined LDDC at the start of the 1980s and I had many dealings with him over the years as a leader in his community. He was forthright in his supporter of the Airport project believing that it would kick-start the regeneration of the area and bring much needed employment to its people.  But as a member of the Consultative Committee he was steadfast in defending the interests of local people and over the years there were some very robust debates!

"Reaction among Committee members to the news of his passing has been much stronger than I would have believed.  Although for most of the time he gave the impression of being quiet and unassuming he was in fact tenancious in pursuing what he thought was right and he was obviously very well liked and respected."

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Footnote:

In June 2006 Bill was asked to make a video recording of his recollections for the Airport's Archiving project - here is a short clip (.wmv file, 4.91mb)

An independent Consultative Committee established by London City Airport pursuant to Section 35 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982
Chairman: John Adshead     Secretary: Stuart Innes
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Page last modified: 29th March 2009