Researching Donald Williams

Williams went to the Royal Grammar School in Worcester. Before he could go out to work, the outbreak of the Second World War led him to join the Worcester Regiment. He was taken prisoner at Dunkirk and spent four and a half years in German prisoner-of-war camps, but escaped in January 1945 and went through Russia to get back to Britain in March 1945.

After the war he qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1949, and in April 1950 became a Partner in Kendall, Wadley and Company, based in Malvern, Worcestershire. At the 1966 general election, he was the Conservative Party candidate in Dudley against George Wigg.

When Wigg resigned, Williams was selected to fight the seat in the ensuing byelection. This came at a time when Harold Wilson's Labour government was very unpopular and Williams achieved a large swing to win the seat in March 1968. In Parliament, Williams was friendly with neighbouring MP Enoch Powell and allied with the right, voting against the Race Relations Bill in 1968 and opposing House of Lords reform.

Williams lost his seat at the 1970 general election, with Labour regaining it, although the Conservatives ousted Labour from government at that election. Three years later he was elected to Hereford and Worcester County Council. He was an unsuccessful Conservative candidate for Dudley East at the 1979 general election. He had left his previous accountancy firms, and became a company director of a food company and an electronic engineering company.

Williams is famously known for falling off a cliff whilst out for a walk. His spatial awareness had often been questioned by his England hockey team mates - who were not surprised when they heard of his accident.

Williams fell onto the rocks below in a little cove where the tide was coming in. Thankfully his blackberry was still working though - and even though he had broken many ribs, plus collar bone etc, he was able to call for help and was rescued. A friendly crab talked to him whilst waiting for the air ambulance. The crab later featured in an episode of midsummer murders.

Williams now focuses on his average golf game. Luckily his wife loves him very much and plays with him*, even though unusually often seen entering cow fields in a shark cage.

Williams children are surprisingly good looking, sporty, and with a high emotional EQ.

*golf