Kingsley Hall was central to the life of Bill & Emily together

To hear an interview of Emily on how she came to be at Kingsley Hall and met the Lesters and Gandhi click here.

The interview was conducted by Alice Mackay on September 18, 2007

Bill started attending Kingsley Hall Bow as a young boy.

• He met and was greatly influenced by Muriel & Doris Lester
• In 1931 he met Mahatma Gandhi and Bill's account of the visit was syndicated across India . He went for walks with the famous man.

• Emily met the Lesters when they pitched a tent in Dagenham and then built "The Old Hall"
• She too met Gandhi when he visited Dagenham. She shook hands but it was explained he wouldn't speak as it was is "silent day"

Bill & Emily attended Kingsley Hall Dagenham for over 60 years

• They met there as teenagers

• They were married there on February 13, 1943

• Emily was a member and then leader of the "Camp Fire Girls"

• Their son, John, was baptised there in September 1947
• For many years Bill was "MC" at regular Saturday evening dances,
• He did the lighting for shows, and handled the PA at the garden fete

• They made and retained many lifelong friends

• and  Bill acted as his "sound man" when Dudley Moore did a charity performance at Kingsley hall in the 1990s

• On their retirement they started "Tea (Ballroom) Dance" there every Tuesday afternoon for about 40 people and raised a great deal of money for the work.

• They celebrated their Golden Wedding there on February 13, 1993

• and Bill's funeral on June 12, 2000
• his ashes were buried there and a rose planted in his memory

Emily continues to go there many times a week...........................