The late William James Stephenson “Billy” Tow Law H.S.

Today we gathered at the beautiful St Thomas Church ,Stanhope in the heart of the Wear Valley to pay our last respects to Billy.The church was totally full with many standing and some outside unable to get in.
The Revd Heather Ross conducted the service and the Eulogy was brilliantly given by Billy’s brother Frank which received a spontaneous round of applause when he had finished, after the service Billy was finally laid to rest in Crosshill Cemetery,Stanhope in a family plot next to his parents
Billy raced his pigeons originally with his father Frank and then on his own to Stanhope which is 12 miles west of Crook so not in the easiest location,in 2014 racing from Arras I had a mutual friend at my loft waiting for the birds when I clocked on Andrew said that he must ring Billy to tell him amazing Billy had timed on 1second before me but flying 6 mile further when we were taking the clocks off it was clear that Billy was 1st Fed and myself 2nd ,after congratulating him he quietly informed me that all the years that his dad and then him had flown it was the first time they had topped the fed ,quite honestly I was delighted for him this to me was what makes the game great ,and it was an honour at the presentation night to present him with his trophies.
Rest in peace Billy

Alan Brown