BILL ‘THE FISH’ BILLINGS – A BRENTFORD LEGEND

Thursday, 22 September 2022 | In Focus, Heritage

The death of Howard 'Bill the Fish' Billings has brought back memories of his decades as a turnstile operator at Griffin Park, a fan at away games and a BU member. These are some of the tributes and the images we have received plus an archive video clip of an interview with Bill.  
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There probably aren’t many Brentford supporters who didn’t know Howard ‘Bill The Fish’ Billings. One of the most instantly recognisable characters at our wonderful club. He wore shorts whatever the weather and had time for everyone.
His “Bill The Fish” nickname was courtesy of his affection for pre match cod. Sometimes post match as well! Bill was quite a connoisseur and had his favourite fish and chip shops up and down the country following the Bees.
Bill’s turnstile at Griffin Park was always the busiest, such was his popularity.
He was a good friend for many years. Living just up the M4 from myself, Bill would pick me and Minky up early doors on match days. Which was always a treat, giving us ample time to enjoy a few pre match pints.
On away trips Bill had an encyclopedic knowledge of music and general knowledge. I often thought he’d do very well on TV’s “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” had he entered!
Bill will be hugely missed at Brentford. A fantastic man, brilliant supporter. A legend.
R.I.P.
Pete Johnston
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Bill is the face of Brentford club, notice I’m talking in the present tense here, some of you may not even know his name, you may have know him as the friendly bearded man on the New Road turnstiles, the man with the beard and shorts you’d see at every away game, the man who you’d chat with in The Griffin before a match . On a personal note Bill a dear friend, who I got to know properly when I sat next to him on an away coach journey probably 35/ 40 years ago, heading somewhere up north, for either a 3rd or 4th division fixture. As you can tell I’m not one for dates or stats, thankfully we have Mark Chapman and other ‘minds’ to deal with stats. Bill was reading a music magazine Q if I’m not mistaken. There was no need for small talk here, straight into who are your favourite bands, Bill strung out a list, a bit of a prog rock fan it transpired, Pink Floyd, Yes, The Nice, ELP …oh and The Beach Boys. The relationship was cemented. Also learned of Bills interest in WW1 & 2 . He visited the historic landing beaches and war cemeteries in France.

Over the ensuing years we would travel by coach and car share with the likes of Pete Johnson , Rod Scales, Dave Twydell, Ian West and numerous other reprobates. Bill’s mode of transport was his trusty dark blue Vauxhall Cavalier, it was a sad day when it left our fleet ! Pete Johnston was guilty of forming Hey Jude Fanzine, with me at the helm writing and designing the covers, ( including the Bill buys Brentford edition) and bespoke adverts for the late Bernie Watson.

Amongst the ranks of regular contributors was Rod Scales who would weave beautiful works of total fiction including the fact that his wife was a mermaid. Bill’s new title emanated from these writings ‘Bill The Fish’ was now official. How did he receive such an honour?  Simple answer pre – away match ritual was him seeking out for a decent local fish & chip shop, he would order Diet Coke, LARGE COD and a small portion of chips , the chips were insignificant , part of the package, it was all about the COD. Bill had other titles bestowed upon him including ‘The Codfather’ and ‘ GP Turnstile Guru’.

Stories about Bill will hopefully be shared when we all gather collectively and in small groups at forthcoming games, in pubs and other places. Here are a few  of my own:

  • Crewe away, large cod before and after the game, coach driver waiting patiently while he finished his feast.
  • Following us sealing promotion to the championship we were celebrating outside the Griffin. Matthew Bentham walked up to us and said the following immortal words “ you’re Bill you gave me a lift to a game once”. He chatted with us for a while, Bill felt duly honoured and Matthew gave us some of the excess beer people kept buying him.
  • Coming home from Tuesday night games he’d always put ‘The Organist Entertains’ on BBC radio for the drive home.

Bill would pick me up in Slough for home games and we would arrive at the Griffin nice and early, Bill would religiously have a Guinness followed by a Diet Coke. Gerhard would check Bill was wearing his ‘lucky shorts’ and off Bill would go for his pre- match briefing before taking up his post on the New Road turnstiles. I’d go through his gate always, it was the one with the longest queue, people just preferred to be greeted by Bill, understandable in my humble opinion. Post match back to the Griffin, it was an enjoyable ritual which shall be sorely missed.

Pre-season friendlies at non league grounds: I would enjoy these games at the likes of Hampton, Kingstonians etc. I’d arrive with Bill, get in the ground and leave Bill who it would appear was known by every Bees fan in the ground. It would be the second half before he’d eventually catch up with me.

In the last few years our match routine changed, due to his impaired vision and mobility problems. I’d pick him up from his home in Maidenhead, we’d arrive early and he would then enjoy chatting to his friends outside our gleaming new stadium.

I last saw Bill the day after beating Leeds. I’d called at his home as he’d forgotten his blue badge. I sat with him and Sue, talked about our victory and about them moving home to elsewhere in Maidenhead. We also chatted about our time working together at Living Props in Iver Heath.

Bill a man who genuinely had time for everyone, kind hearted, generous, it was a pleasure to spend time in your company. Thoughts go out to Sue and Sarah, and Brentford friends whose lives he will have touched, Bill a Brentford Legend. Travel safely on your journey my friend.

In fondest memory

Paul Minkkinen

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Hearing the sad news of Bill’s passing immediately after the Arsenal game has left me very sad and somewhat numb. Bill was a fixture at Brentford, as much as the turnstile he so dutifully manned during his many years as a gateman at Griffin Park. So popular was Bill, I’m sure he admitted more Bees fans than everyone else put together.

Bill’s love and enthusiasm for Brentford was infectious. Not only was he known to just about all of his fellow Bees, but it seemed to supporters of other clubs around the country too. Wherever we would go, Bill would be stopped time and again by people for a chat and asking how he was. I’ve not known a man as friendly and popular as Bill, but he was as modest and humble a man as you could wish to meet.

I recall Bill enjoying his pre-match lunch at Plymouth so much than he went back for another portion. Brentford duly honoured Bill’s prodigious effort and won 5-1. It is not known to this writer whether Bill celebrated with a third helping, but I wouldn’t be surprised. I also recall Bill leaving Spotland at half time to again enjoy the local cuisine, this time from an establishment apparently frequented by Lisa Stansfield’s mum. Only Bill would glean that titbit from someone.

For a number of years Bill was a regular companion on away trips. We would pick Bill up in the early hours, this after Bill had done his morning round for the Royal Mail. Regardless of the result or performance, Bill was always on top form, especially if our return journey included stopping off at AJ’s Indian restaurant in the Kings Heath area of Birmingham. Bill introduced us all to his favourite starter – fish pakora. I’m sure guys there made it especially for Bill.

There was one occasion Bill couldn’t join us on the journey north, this time at Wigan a week or so before Christmas. Royal Mail don’t grant holiday leave in December, but undeterred, Bill drove himself north and was there as usual – in shorts and without a coat – to support his team. Bill was made of stern stuff where Brentford was concerned. There will be many others who will have hundreds of stories to tell about Bill, but everyone will I am sure say the same thing: Bill was a great Brentford supporter and a lovely man.

I shall miss Bill. Brentford won’t be quite the same without him.

I’ve just arrived in Cornwall for a week’s walking and there was only ever going to be one way to mark this occasion.

Rest in peace Bill

Russell Owen

In 2018 Bees United interviewed Bill for a video we called ‘Meet the Brentford stalwarts’ .Here’s a clip.

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