In 1998, having run a successful business in the West Midlands for 10 years, Bill decided it was time to retire. He moved to an old farmhouse in Hanwood, a small village with less than 1000 residents. The village was known for sports like football and cricket at the Village Hall grounds. Additionally, there was a bowling club for crown green bowling at The Cock Inn.

True to his history of engendering community spirit, the first twelve months were spent setting up one of the many barns at the old farm as a social area. With sports in mind, the facilities included table tennis, a properly built area for short mat bowling, a kitchen, and a sitting area for board games and relaxing. Shortly after moving in and getting to know people, Bill invited residents to a Millennium party held in the newly furnished barn. The barn quickly became the venue for the village flower and produce show. Over time, it grew into a very popular event, extending to table-top barn sales, an exhibition of Hanwood’s history, work of the church youth group, The Brooke charity, and refreshments were served. In all, it became a very successful annual event.

Bill joined the bowling club and found a strong senior group but a shortage of members for local league matches. The year before, the Hanwood team in Premier was demoted, and team members left to sign on for other clubs in the premier league. It quickly became apparent that things were in decline, and there were persistent rumors that The Cock Inn was going to be sold, posing a threat of losing the bowling club.

Bill and his wife Ursula joined the bowling club, marking the start of 20 years of community work in the Village. Bill was voted as the Chair and secretary of the club. He worked with members to improve the green and facilities, attracting more bowlers and increasing membership to compete in leagues, fundraise events, organise in-house competitions, and encourage young bowlers during school holidays. He was also voted on to the Parish Council and revised the constitution, promoting a beautification scheme in the village. Moreover, they offered grants to residents to put up benches in memory of loved ones.

In 2008, Hanwood came second in the Calor Village of the Year competition. The following year, they won an award from Britain in Bloom for flower boxes in Hanwood. Furthermore, Bill offered land that they owned at a reduced price to build social housing for Hanwood’s residents, resulting in the construction of 48 houses.

In 2010, Bill became the Chair of the Village Hall Committee and obtained a £100,000 grant to open up overgrown land in the grounds, making it more accessible to the local community, school, and other groups using the village hall. They constructed a new 400m pathway circulating the grounds, new dressing rooms, equipment for children’s play areas, picnic tables, benches, and a BBQ. The project took 18 months to complete.

In 2011, Bill and the Village Hall Committee organised a very successful community games week, involving many sections of the community and offering opportunities for people to come together, often through sports. This event served as an example nationally, inspiring other communities with ideas.

In 2012, they had the official opening of Village Hall grounds, Waterside Park, with residents celebrating the Queen’s jubilee, making use of all the new facilities and enjoying wildlife while walking along the meandering Rea Brook for the first time in years.

Finally, in 2012, Bill was successfully voted in as an Independent candidate to serve West Mercia as the first Police and Crime Commissioner. This full-time job meant that Bill was now serving communities in three counties: Shropshire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire for a period of 4 years.