Mexborough and Swinton Times, January 22, 1937

Mr W Williams
Talented Musician and Composer
Loss to South Yorkshire

It is with deep regret that we have to announce the death at his home, “Alcome,” Alexandra Rd, Mexborough, on Monday last, Mr Willie Williams (52), for many years one of the leading personalities in the musical circles of the town and of a wide surrounding area.

In these days of abundant “canned” music, Mr Williams was one of the few remaining men when Devon, with a large measure of success, to promote musical activities for the individual locally, and in his career he has set many young men on the road to musical achievement.

Fitting testimony to this is contained in the large number of letters received by the bereaved family from musicians over a wide area, many of whom had received their training at Mr Williams hands.

A native of Kilnhurst, he showed musical ability at an early age, and as a member of the Kilnhurst band he was awarded a medal at the age of 14 for his solo playing of the euphonium at the Crystal Palace Festival.

At an early age he took over the leadership of the Kilnhurst Orchestral Society, and at that time we promoted many musical events in the village which achieved considerable local fame.

Services to the Church

He came to Mexborough over 20 years ago, since when is influencer has been felt in almost every aspect of the musical life of the child. He was choirmaster at the Central Methodist Church for the last 12 years, and the musical services there became well known.

At the last anniversary the programme consisted entirely of Mr Williams’s own compositions. Many of the chapels and churches in the district received his valuable assistance, and whenever organisers of events, large or small, needed any musical aid, it was to Mr Williams that they generally turned. In that direction alone he must have arranged or composed or arranged hundreds of pieces.

Operatic Society Interests

Mr Linda became a member of the orchestra for the Wath Operatic Society at its inception, and subsequently became its conductor, and finally musical director.

With the reviving of the Mexborough Operatic Society a few years ago, he became musical director there, and he acted in that capacity for the last three successful shows. He was also musical director to the Maltby Operatic Society. He was conductor of the Mexborough Choral Society, which is presented, during the past few years, a number of oratorios in convincing fashion. He was also conductor of the Denby’s (near Huddersfield) Silver Prize Band, and last year he conducted the massed bands at the famous “Penistone Sing.”

His work as a composer was also well known, and he was responsible for the whole of the musical background and theme songs of the mining film, “Black Diamonds,” in respect of which he worked with his orchestra at Elstree Studios for a week.

His unassuming manner endeared him to all classes of the community from his workmates and local colleagues to the famous singers or instrumentalists.