By the beginning of 2002 Billy had decided to resign from managing The Burdekin “to do some of the things that I’ve wanted to.”  His resignation took effect from 19 July 2002.

Billy had been having problems with his right thumb and it had been diagnosed as “carpal tunnel syndrome”.  On 23 January his thumb was operated on and his arm was in plaster for six weeks.  Two small pins and a screw were inserted.

During July and August 2002 Billy flew home to the UK.  As I was, and still am, involved with the restoration project for the Britannia Panopticon Music Hall in Argyle Street, Glasgow, I wanted Billy to see it and the progress that was being made.  We arranged to meet in Billy’s Glasgow hotel on my birthday, 1 August, which was a beautiful, warm and sunny  day.  The visit to the Panopticon was incorporated in a walking tour of the Merchant City of Glasgow, and we started off at the People’s Palace, walked over Glasgow Green, stopped for lunch at a local hostelry and ended up in the Panopticon.  A ‘tradition’ that had been built up by visitors to the Music Hall was that they should sing to the theatre’s ghosts (of which there are a few!) and I persuaded Billy to sing with me “One In Particular”.  I surprised him by having to change the words slightly for the girl’s part!  Billy’s line in the song is “A well-stacked blonde will pass you by” and, of course, I couldn’t sing that!  I changed the words I sang to “A handsome guy will pass you by” (scans better!).  We’d to walk back to the People’s Palace, where I had parked my car, so I drove Billy back to his hotel. After I went home to change, I returned to the hotel and, joined by his brother, Jack, the three of us had dinner and a “wee dram” to celebrate my birthday.  It was a wonderful, happy day.  Here are a few photos.