1923–2026
The sad news that long-term HMSO employee ‘Billie’ Williams has died was forwarded by Valerie Knowles as follows:
‘It is with great sadness that I have to tell you that Billie died in January 2026 after a short illness. The funeral will take place on Monday 9th February in Dorset: the day when she would have been 103 years old. She was born on 9 February 1923 and joined HMSO on 5 November 1962, eventually working as EO in Publications Division.
Billie had lost her sight to macular degeneration but her mind was still sharp even in her later years and she still did the Telegraph crossword every day as long as she had someone to read her the clues and write them in.’
Billie celebrated her 100th birthday in an earlier HMSOldies item.
Philip Marriage adds: Sad news indeed but what a wonderfully long life! There aren’t too many of us oldies who will recall Billie but those of us in the Graphic Design studio will remember her with respect, immaculately dressed, running her section and books with soft, quiet efficiency. The memory of her approaching quick steps echoing on the lino floor of the Atlantic House corridors lingers.
Fred Stubbs adds: I knew Billie when she worked for the Hydrographic Department. She was secretary (assistant) to Mr Harlow (aka Curly) who represented the Hydrographic Department. They came regularly to HMSO and would arrange printing of large diagrams and such like. Billie sat on a seat in the side entrance to Atlantic House (Shoe lane?); the seat was provided by the uniformed outdoor messengers we had at that time – they would deliver urgent packages around inner London. Then, when Mr Harlow retired, Billie joined HMSO in Pubns so I met her again. She was a quiet but very efficient EO and a very pleasant lady to work with.