William Charles Scragg 1932-2022

William Scragg, who was known to everyone as Bill, was a man who enjoyed good health for many years living to the age of 90. Even at this grand old age his mind was razor sharp. He read the newspaper every day from cover to cover, did sudoku and crosswords to keep his mind active and regularly took the consumer magazine Which.

He was an independent and private man, he never married but enjoyed a close relationship with his immediate family. He was known for his dry sense of humour.

Bill was born on 22 February 1932, in Lambeth, to Daniel and Beatrice Scragg. He was brought up with his brother Howard. The family moved to Romford and then in 1969 to Chingford, east London, where Bill lived till his passing.

He worked as a joiner and project manager until his retirement. He served this country during his national service and spent part of the time in Germany.

Bill was meticulous he kept everything and was extremely careful with money. He made shrewd investments in stocks and shares, and loved keeping an eye on them to see how his investments were doing.

He was a keen gardener, growing many plants and vegetables from seeds. He would travel around the country visiting various gardens in England and Scotland. In his own garden he loved watching and feeding the birds.

He was a very keen cyclist from when he was a young child, starting when he was just 10 years old and cycling well into his 80s. He cycled almost every day, often covering many miles at full speed. As a young man he went cycling with his parents and he and his brother Howard went on many cycling holidays, staying at youth hostels overnight.

When Bill was no longer able to cycle in his late 80s, he bought himself an exercise bike and would get on it and peddle furiously. It made him him happy just to be able to cycle again, albeit in his living room!

Christine Lomas, neighbour

He was very upset when he eventually had to stop cycling, following a fall when he badly broke his elbow. The break meant he needed an elbow replacement and at the age of 86 he reluctantly acknowledged he didn’t have the strength in his arms to be able to cycle safely any more.

This didn’t completely stop him, though, as he subsequently obtained an exercise bike and could often be seen cycling furiously on it in his living room at home. He also joined a walking group and regularly walked many miles.
He was a very generous supporter of many charities both in life and, through his will, leaving bequests to Cancer Research, Oxfam, Shelter, and Age UK, among others.

One of the charities he supported is Cycling UK, bequeathing a very generous £50,000 to the charity. He was a member of the Cyclists’ Touring Club, as it was known at the time, from a young age. He was very grateful for their support when his bicycle skidded on some ice from a water leak leading to him damaging his arm and needing time off from his job.

The legal department of the CTC helped him to take action against the body responsible for the water leak and enabled him to recoup the money he lost during the period he was unable to work.

Since his passing many of the charities he supported have said that he was one of their best donors and had been for many years. One charity said that his donations had helped to save lives.