Death of a true Gibraltarian

As the House is well aware, Willie has been an energetic hardworking member of our community, both in his private capacity as a successful businessman – principally from the iconic Red House - and as a political activist, where he was really in his element.

Willie has contributed extensively to the business community through the Boards of the Chamber of Commerce and campaigned in all initiatives to promote the democratic rights of the Gibraltarians, including the right to vote in European Elections, the struggle against Joint Sovereignty, amongst others.

Indeed, he was also an important contributor to law enforcement in our community via his contribution to the Police Complaints Board.

Willie was strongly opposed to the Brussels Agreement and helped to carry the Brussels Coffin symbolically paraded by the SDGG to Parliament in defiance to the British Government and the Gibraltar Government of the day.

Perhaps Willie’s greatest contribution was his membership of the Self Determination for Gibraltar Group. He became a founder member and took over from its first Chairman Dennis Mathews, when Dennis stepped down.

Willie led the group for nine years, addressing the mass rallies at Casemates and spoke before the United Nations Committees on decolonisation. I fondly remember those trips to New York on which we coincided.

Willie’s family and, indeed, all of us Gibraltarians can justly feel proud at the contribution he has made to develop a Democratic British Gibraltar.

MAY HE REST IN PEACE

* It is with great sadness that PANORAMA joins in the condolences. We were shocked when we heard of his passing away. Virtually every day, he met with our Editor and others for a morning coffee and to exchange views on the past and the present. He was such an intelligent person, always fighting Gibraltar's corner. He will be greatly missed. May he rest in peace. Our sincere condolences to his family.

06-05-19 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR