Bill Bates passed away in July 2001. He will always be remembered for his boundless energy, his enthusiasm, and not least, his belief in himself. Bill began his career as a public health inspector in Jersey, C.I., from whence his job took him in the 1960s to Bilston in the West Mdlands - Staffordshire in those days. He married Joy in 1964 and they subsequently had two children, Ken and Kay. Bill was a prolific songwriter and musician. Besides Herbies People, his work has been recorded by P J Proby and The MacKinleys - "Sweet and Tender Romance"; by Clinton Ford - "Forget Yesterday"; by The Ivy League and others. His most famous hits are "Will I What?" recorded by Mike Sarne, and "Scotch on the Rocks", recorded by the Band of the Black Watch. Bill was known to be working on a stage musical at the time of his death. He will be sadly missed.