Obituary: William Fred Crooks (1928–2022)

Scottish branch mourns passing of IQ stalwart and respected mineral extractives industry professional

LONG-serving Institute of Quarrying (IQ) stalwart and well-respected mineral extractives industry professional William (Bill) Fred Crooks sadly passed away at the start of February. Bill became an IQ member in 1975 and was an active part of the Scottish branch. He joined the committee at the AGM in 1986 and subsequently held roles as Honorary Secretary and Treasurer from 1988 until 2010. The IQ Scottish branch annual dinner dance was always a big night out for Bill and his wife, Mattie. He organized the dance and managed the tickets and payments for in excess of 500 guests for many years – all without the help of a computer. He also organized the branch Handbook – all by hand. In 2000, the Scottish branch awarded Bill with an IQ Citation Award in recognition of his dedication to the Institute over many years.

Bill was born in Sheffield in 1928 and joined the Navy at the age of 17. He was too young to serve in the war but did his bit in controlling uprisings in Aden, The Congo, and South Africa. He loved to tell the story about Philip being his commanding officer, later to become Prince Philip. While he was stationed in Rothesay, he would go dancing in Glasgow where he met Mattie, who he married on 14 December 1951. Bill left the Navy and became a travelling salesman for Lyons, then Remington Rand. He went to college to learn about rubber manufacture and processing before joining the sales team for the Acre Rubber Company in Glasgow, where he built a good reputation and an extensive client base. In 1979, Bill started his own company, Mine and Quarry Services, with John Dennett. Bill was a great family man and loved his wife of 70 years, Mattie, his two boys and their wives, four granddaughters, one grandson and great-granddaughter dearly. Sadly, Mattie passed away shortly after Bill at the start of March. Harry Cant, chair of the IQ Scottish branch, said: ‘Bill’s commitment, contribution, and passion for the industry throughout a very long life is to be celebrated. On behalf of everyone at IQ, we send our condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time.’