Obituaries

Bill Wilkinson 1941 – 2025

Bill Wilkinson turns on the style on the Greeves Anglian (WWC169F) that took him to his SSDT win in 1969 – (Photo: the late Barry Robinson with permission of Liz Old)

It is with great sadness that Trials Guru announces the passing of Bill Wilkinson, the last British trials rider to win the Scottish Six Days Trial on a British built machine, the 250cc Greeves Anglian, WWC169F in 1969.

Bill Wilkinson (right) with Trials Guru’s John Moffat in 2015 at the Highland Classic 2 Day Trial. Bill was Guest of Honour. (Photo: Jean Caillou)

Bill was a true Yorkshire character, who called a ‘spade a spade’ and wasn’t afraid to say so! He was quick-witted and enjoyed the company of like-minded individuals. Bill was a proud Englishman and even prouder Yorkshireman. He rode for the Greeves factory from 1960 until 1971, when he switched to ride for OSSA Moto UK under the ownership of Peter Fletcher. When he rode for the Greeves factory, he never had a written contract, it was done by the shake of a hand, because Bill’s word was his bond.

Bill Wilkinson with his wife Pearl in 2015 (Photo: Jean Caillou)

Bill Wilkinson will be sorely missed in the world of trials, he was a national, British Experts, Scott Trial and SSDT winner. Our sincere condolences go to his brother Mick, sister Shirley, his wife Pearl and his son, Andrew and daughter, Michelle and the extended Wilkinson family. (Photos courtesy of Jean Caillou, France)

Bill Wilkinson tries one of Trials Guru’s John Moffat’s Vazquez Bultacos for size in 2015 (Photo: Jean Caillou)

John Moffat of Trials Guru added: “Bill Wilkinson was a superstar of trials when I was a schoolboy, a man that I looked up to along with his peers of the late 1960s. Little did I know then that I would become a firm friend in later years. I got to know him by speaking with him at his stall in the Parc Ferme at the SSDT in the late 1980s. He knew my late father well and always spoke highly of him. Over the years, our paths crossed many times and in 2015 I invited him to be the Guest of Honour at the tenth edition of the Highland Classic Two Day Trial, which he happily accepted and what a great time we had. He was simply superb. I had the honour of interviewing Bill on stage at many functions and also on Nevis Radio at the SSDT in Fort William. Bill will leave a huge hole in the sport of trials that cannot be filled. He was one in a million“.

Bill Wilkinson’s funeral is on Monday 28th July 2025 at 1pm at Skipton Crematorium, Waltonwrays Cemetery, Carleton Rd, Skipton BD23 3BT. Thereafter a ‘Bun Fight’ at the Rolls Royce Social Club in Barnoldswick. All welcome, trials attire and colourful clothes to celebrate the colourful fella that he was.

Bill Wilkinson – 21/06/1941 – 4/07/2025

Wilkinsons of Kettlewell article: HERE