Born in Bangor, North Wales Bill grew up in southern England He attended St. Paul's School in London and served his two year National Service in the Army. In 1955, while working in London, he was encouraged to emigrate to Vancouver. He found work as a writer and editor of the CBC Times. Later, Bill worked with the CBC in Montreal and then with the National Film Board from 1963 to 1974. In 1974 he returned to settle in Vancouver.