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Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2014 12:13 pm

I was surprised recently to hear that Bill Cainan retired as curator of the Royal Regiment of Wales Museum on 31 August this year (he's just a slip of a lad) although he is still involved with a lot of AZW queries for the Museum.

I'm sure our members will want to wish Bill a very happy retirement although it doesn't seem that he will be idle. Bill has done a great job in the four years that he has steered the Museum through various problems and has done a great job in stabilising the museum's finances. He revamped the interior of the museum including our major interest, the AZW room. His 50sq foot model of RD is the centre-point of the new layout and as those who have been there will testify, it's a credit to Bill.

He tells me that his successor is Richard Davies, a qualified Museum man, so hopefully he’ll speak the right “language” to get the necessary grants in to secure the Museum’s future, building on Bill's legacy. We wish him luck in his new role and look forward to meeting him.

I'm sure we would all like to wish Bill a very happy retirement and look forward to seeing him again at various events from time to time.

Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2014 12:20 pm

A happy retirement indeed to Bill who was a great friend to members here. Bill was unfailingly generous with his time and willingness to share the museum's treasures with us. Thanks Bill.

Peter

Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 9:55 pm

May I also echo Peterw's words above and wish Bill a very happy retirement.

Good luck Bill.

Kind regards,

Dewi

Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 8:27 pm

I, too, would like to support the comments made by everyone.

I spoke with and met Bill a couple of times, and he was always very helpful. Mind you, the first time I actually met him, I was greatly surprised to see him dressed as (if I remember correctly) an officer of the Royal Engineers!
After I got over the shock - as, let's face it, not many Museum Curators dress up when in their museums - it was good to have a chat to him about the revisions that he'd inspired at the museum.

Finally, I was so impressed by the models. They are among the best that I have seen, and are a real help to the understanding of the scenes.

Have a very happy "retirement", Bill - and thanks for all your help!

Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2014 4:32 pm

You might like to see Bill as a Redcoat (24th Foot of course) c1745 on youtube as 'Bill the Redcoat'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4Dk4XB5baM

Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2014 5:06 pm

He looks very lone leeeeeeee.

Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2014 6:02 pm

Brilliant. A youtube classic!

Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2014 8:46 pm

Alan wrote:

He looks very lone leeeeeeee.

Yes, but everyone else knew that he was going to be firing at them, so they ran away!

It's an excellent video, though!

Smile