William ROBERTS Obituary

Dear Kath and Family,

Please accept my prayers and condolences for your immeasurable loss.
We don't know each other, but I am a 79 year old maritime historian developing a biography of Howard Irving Chapelle. Your husband built beautiful CLARIONET to a Chapelle design. Seeking more information (if you have time and inclination to share...) such as: Did Wally know Chapelle (I did a little)? Do you know why he chose Chap's design (from Yacht Designing & Planning - 1936)? Did Wally keep a notebook, perhaps during the process? I was led to this obituary, by
Blair Harkness who is offering CLARIONET for sale. Blair also knows of photographs made while the schooner was under construction. Again, Dear Kath, your husband clearly left an indelible legacy in many ways, and fields of endeavor (I flew privately years ago...) building CLARIONET was only one of them. Thanks for considering my request. A reply of any kind is always appreciated. Blessings! Randy Biddle, Star Idaho, USA

I´m a former colleague of Wally. I flew with him on the 747 in the 1990s. We all heard about his death today in an email from the Airline Pilots Association. There have been quite a few funny stories shared between his former colleagues on our base chat group. Some recalled how he would play his harmonica on the flight deck in the small hours across the Pacific or the North Atlantic.

What can you say? He was everyone´s favourite. He was in his early 50s in those days but he looked and seemed to be in his 30s! Great social organiser, trips with Wally were the most fun, the best crew parties. He was funny, warm, kind to his junior colleagues, sharp at his profession, gregarious and very popular. Although many of us will not have seen him since he retired we remember him well and are sad to hear that he has died.

RIP Wally.. so many memories and great humour. Condolences to Kath, the boys and all of the family.
Kathy & Odd Andersen

RIP Captain Wally. Happy memories of great times past. Sailing days and flying times. Sincere condolences to all the family.

Fly high Wally you will always be remembered for your sense of humour and kind thoughts. Rest easy you have earned it. Our condolences to all the family.
Yvonne, Kevin, Ryan and Wade

Wal,

Your wings are flying with the stars
Your sails have sailed into the sunset
Wal rest now you have reached your final destination.

Love to you Kath and Wally's beloved family.

Marg & Perry Brown
(Kath's sister)