LOCAL ‘character’ Bill Grigg died on Saturday, May 24, three months short of his 70th birthday.

Bill, with his wife Gail, had owned and operated the Phil-Up Service Station opposite the Woombye State School for the past 27 years.

Gordon William Grigg was born in Birmingham, England on August 13, 1927. He grew up and was educated in and around the Birmingham area.

At 18, he joined the Fleet Air Arm of the English Navy where he trained as an air mechanic.

Shortly after being de-mobbed, Bill decided to migrate to Australia. He arrived in Melbourne and obtained work with TAA where he remained for almost two years.

He then bought a truck in partnership with a friend he had met on the ship from England and they set off to the Callide coal fields.

Bill later bought his own truck and tractor and moved to the Charleville area where he worked as a fence contractor before returning to Redbank, where he had helped his mother, sister and brother buy a house to join him in Australia.

While at Redbank, Bill bought a trawler named The Wanderer.

Bill and Gail were married in October 1966 in Nambour, where Gail was working at a solicitor’s office. They had bought a block of land - their present address - and lived in a small fibro hut Bill had built. He flatly refused to borrow money, so their present home was built brick by brick.

In 1970, Bill sold his trawler and bought the service station.

Bill was a strong headed man, man with high opinions who liked to be the boss. He never believed in women’s rights but would help anyone. He was a clever man who loved a good argument and was proudly atheist, relishing any opportunity to speak to anyone with a religious conviction. He certainly did not mellow as he aged.

Bill loved a challenge and just five years ago, travelled through Russia on the Trans Siberian railway. He also visited his homeland before returning to Woombye.

Bill was an extremely healthy man throughout his life and hadn’t been to see a doctor for over 14 years when, in February 1996, he began having health problems. He underwent major surgery last month but died of a heart attack in his own home two weeks later.

Bill will be missed by his wife Gail and children Karen, Tracey and Ben.