Bill Shearing 1951 – 2012

Wensley Roofing are sad to announce the sudden death of their friend and colleague Bill Shearing on Saturday 25th February 2012.

Bill joined Wensley Roofing in 1991 as a skilled Roofer. In 2000 he was promoted to Site Supervisor and then in 2003 to Contracts Manager. His work ethic and strong personality won the respect of those under his guidance. His man-management skills combined with his wide knowledge of fixing practices and site procedures ensured he would go further in the Roofing industry.

It was therefore inevitable that, in April 2008 he was appointed Contracts Director responsible for selecting on-site teams, coaching and quality control. With over 40 years’ experience in Roofing, Bill commanded the highest regard from colleagues at all levels.

Away from work Bill, and his wife, Zenobia, worked tirelessly in support of beleaguered Christian families living under impoverished conditions in Bethlehem. Many are unaware that Christ’s birth place is virtually cut off from the outside world, cruelly partitioned by a Berlin-style concrete wall that inhibits ordinary people from travelling to work, study and trade. Many are separated from family and loved ones and because of this repressive situation, cannot earn enough to properly feed themselves.

Bill threw himself into various projects, lectures and visits to bring the plight of this community to the attention of as many as he could in this region. He visited Bethlehem many times and was received like a brother by those he tried to help. His efforts helped a number of key projects and people in the area including the pupils at the School of St Aphrem at Beit Jala.

At a prestigious ceremony at St Aiden’s Church, Sunderland, Bill and Zenobia were awarded the ‘Bethlehem Passport’ by one of the founders of the ‘Open Bethlehem Foundation’, Lelia Sansour. This award is extremely rare and given for the dedicated voluntary work carried out by the Shearings’. Other recipients include Pope Benedict XV1 and The Archbishop of Canterbury.

In both his work and private life, Bill Shearing left his mark and made a difference. He will be sadly missed by all.

We are extremely proud to announce that Wensley Roofing has received an IKO Contractor Recognition Award for our work with English Martyrs Primary School in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Stephen Mooney – Area Business Manager for the Roofing Specification Division of IKO – said “The quality of the project at the English Martyrs Primary School, using our Mach Two system, was very impressive. This was potentially a difficult project in that all works were carried out during normal term rather than school holidays.”

During the project fourteen separate flat roofs were recovered with Iko’s Mach two roofing system which included a site specific cut-to-fall insulation scheme on each roof. To accommodate the increased height of insulation, all parapets were raised and new double glazed windows installed to replace the existing ones.

Stephen also remarked of the project “To complete the works as per the programme and in the allocated time was an admirable achievement and all works were completed to a first class standard. In addition, your admirable approach to apprenticeships and training, coupled with your support of the community through the “Give to Local” initiative, made for a compelling submission.”

Wensley Roofing has been invited to the inaugural IKO Contractor Awards, provisionally due to take place in London in Autumn 2021, where we will also be included in the nominations for the Contractor of the Year award.