Deborah & William Hillyard
Deborah & William Hillyard
Deborah & William Hillyard
Deborah & William Hillyard
Deborah & William Hillyard

Biographies

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William's Tale - The Early Years

I was born in 1950 while my Father was serving overseas in the British army.  My Mother was a Greek of the Diaspora, and had lived in a number of countries around the Mediterranean before she met my father, married him, and became a naturalized British citizen.  She and I arrived, by ship, in the U.K. shortly after my first birthday in early 1952.  Initially, we lived with my paternal Grandmother until my father returned to England.  My mother had never so much as cooked an egg before, so she learned to cook from my grandmother, so could cook Yorkshire Pudding, but nothing that we, today, would call ethnic. 

Following my father's return, we spent a few years living in Wrexham, in Wales, where my sister, Mary, was born.  Then my father retired from the army, so in 1954, we moved to Hall Green, a suburb of Birmingham, the second largest city in England, where I spent the bulk of my early life until I was seventeen. 

I started my education in 1955, age 4, at Hall Green Primary school, which was on Highfield Road in those days, before moving in 1958 to the then newly built Chilcote Primary School, which was conveniently much closer to home; just a ten minute walk.  There is also a blog for all ex-Chilcote Primary School pupils, so do pay them a visit if you were there.  In those far off days, for anyone who remembers me, I was known as Billy Hillyard.  It was at that early age that the first inklings of my scientific interests became apparent.  I bought my first book on astronomy and physics, "Astronomy for Entertainment" by the Russian scientist Yakov Perelman, when I was around eight or nine. 
Hall Green Primary School.  I am not sure of the exact date, but I guess it is around 1957/8. 
Hall Green Primary School, Birmingham 1957/8
Concert Flyer
1967
concert
posters
In 1961, when I was ten, I gained a scholarship to King Edwards School in Edgbaston, and progressed to being a more grown up Bill Hillyard.  This was a very old school, founded by King Edward VI in 1552.  The Queen had paid a visit in 1954 to celebrate the 400th anniversary; two years late, you'll notice.  If you are interested in the old school, I have a page with some information and photographs. 
Me (on the left) with friends Dave (on banjo) and Wood; July 1968.  I know, I have never seen two arch-top guitars playing with banjo before!  A bit of early jazz-folk music, perhaps?
Easter 1968 in Sutton Park.  Left to right: Margaret, Janet, Ann getting a piggy-back from me and a kick from Vince.  Nigel in the foreground. 
This time with Wood standing on the right, looking very serious.  Easter 1968. 
Concert Flyer
Not surprisingly, my scholastic interests were the sciences culminating in “A” levels in Mathematics, Further (advanced) Mathematics and Physics when I was 17.  However, studying turned out not to be my forté, and I only just achieved the necessary results to get into University.  My main extra mural interests at the time were the "Disco" nights at Morton House (owned by the NSPCC) on the Bristol Road, going to the Midlands Arts Centre in Cannon Hill Park with my friend Melanie, and hanging out with friends in Streetly, Sutton Coldfield or at the Junior 70 Club at Carrs Lane Church in Birmingham City Center.

Recently, my friend Wood sent some pictures of the "Streetly Crowd", which I have added below.