Vale Bill Boyer 10 May 1924 – 25 December 2017

Bill’s funeral service was held on 3 January 2018 at the Salvation Army Citadel in Briar Hill. Many colleagues and fellow soldiers were in attendance, along with his extended family and ten members of Victoria Welsh Choir, of which Bill had been a faithful and committed member for 20 years.

Joining the Salvation Army at 16, Bill had mastered a variety of brass instruments during his 70 years and had also served as corps secretary and treasurer as well as male voice party leader.

Capt. Ken Smith conducted the service which included two Army hymns – Simply Trusting and O Boundless Salvation. Major June Purdy remembered Bill as the kindly father of her friend and took as the scripture reading Psalm 121. Daughters Margaret and Judith joined brother Lindsay to sing a very accomplished harmonious Blessed Assurance with the congregation joining in on the final chorus.

The family tribute reinforced what choir members remembered – that Bill was a hard-working, humble and modest man and a true gentleman.

Music being such an important part of his life, an audio-visual presentation was accompanied by a favourite Army number A Sunbeam by Phil Catelinet and his casket was escorted out to the strains of Carlton’s club song, We are the navy blues…we’re the team that never lets you down – a very fitting reflection on the man that Bill Boyer was.