He left the Burford area and moved down to Swindon in 1882. According to his wife Mary (writing many years later in a preface to a booklet William Himself compiled), 'he had excellent prospects, for he had an appointment, direct from the then Postmaster General in London.' No-one appears to know what this mysterious statement refers to. The post cannot have materialised because we next hear of him as an apprentice at the G.W.R. works in Swindon.

In 1887 when he was twenty-two years of age, he was involved in a serious accident. Part of an engine was being transferred from one end of the engineering shop to another. Unfortunately, it crashed into his leg which was badly damaged. As it never properly healed, it had to be amputated at the knee. A wooden leg was first fitted and then later replace by an aluminium one which enabled him to remain mobile.

During his time at the railworks, William came into contact with Joseph Dore who was nicknamed 'Holy Joe' by his workmates because he always read his bible and talked about eternal salvation to them. William was so impressed by his witness that he renounced his atheistic beliefs and became a Christian. He joined Joseph's group of believers in King Street Hall in 1883.

Here that William met and fell in love with Mary who later became his wife. It was during their engagement that he suffered the accident to hi leg. He offered to release Mary because he did non wish her to be tied to someone with a handicap but Mary refused his request and eventually they were married.

Meetings ceased to be held ad King Street Hall in 1889 as a result of a dispute. Twelve of the original congregation stayed together, however, and moved to Merton Street Hall which they occupied until 1899. During this time William struck up a friendship with Tom Richards whose occupation was in optics. With their combined skills, William's interest in photography was furthered and eventually guaranteed his entry into the world of professionals. William set up a small dark room for developing plates and negatives taken in the small studio ad 22 Merton Street.

At the same time, he was involved whit helping out in the Sunday School and taking care of the secretarial duties.

As the congregation grew, the need for new premises arose which were found off Regent Street and was called Regent Hall. With the help of Thomas Hacker, Joseph Dore & Tom Richards the building was opened in 1899 and continued until 1967.William had taken charge of the design an organising the construction. He became one of the first group of Elders, again helped with the Sunday School and took part in the meetings. Here he stayed for some 38 years until he left and joined Kingsdown Gospel Hall in Stratton. Another part-time leisure pursuit was astronomy. He possessed a £5 telescope, mounted on an iron pillar and claw stand. In addition he was an amateur painter but he gave more time to this later in life when he was retired. People recall that they had a lovely large collie dog as a pet. He would be pushed in his wheel chair by friends during the 1940s with the faithful collie bringing up the rear.

By St Phillip's Church in Upper Stratton was an area set aside for allotments. There William had a plot for himself and took great pleasure in growing the produce Mary to cook.

After selling his business in 1922, he moved to Fairhaven in Stratton. He remained here for a number of years, then later moved again to St Margaret' s Road, Old Town and from thence to Bicester. Finally he returned to Swindon where he his wife lived with Tom Richards at 10 London Street until he passed away in 1955. His wife Mary died a short while later.

Examples of his work - Click on a picture to see larger image.

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