Bro. WILLIAM HAY CAIRNS
16th August 1951 – 13th November 2013
Born in Stenhousemuir, Falkirk, Stirlingshire to Grace & James Cairns, he was the middle son of 3 brothers and 4 sisters.
His lovely wife Jeanette, 3 sons, Jason, Steven & Scott, daughter Karen and 7 grandchildren survive Billy. He married Jeanette, his second wife in 1983, was generous to a fault and adored her as he did all the family. He was a passionate supporter of Falkirk Football Club and also enjoyed the odd round of golf but, most of all, he loved being in the company of his very many friends, none more so than amongst his friends living where he made his new home in Spain near Fortuna, Murcia. Unfortunately, he was only able to do this during his leave periods in between commuting from Spain to Scotland.
Billy attended catering college and, having gained his qualifications, left there to start his career as a chef in the Lee Park Hotel, Falkirk. After some years as a chef, having decided that he was not cut out for the catering industry, he left that industry to join BP and spent the rest of his life in the Oil Production industry – via spells in Libya, Amoco Oil and finally to Maersk Oil. He twice retired from in order to spend more time with Jeanette but, on each occasion, he was enticed back to work for yet another year’s contract.
It was during one of his windows of leave, on 5th November 2012 to a hail of fireworks, that he was initiated into Las Salinas Lodge No. 79, promising to pursue his Masonic career once he had retired permanently. Sadly, that was never to be the case. He supported Las Salinas Lodge whenever pressure of work permitted, attending many social functions and he never missed a Lodge or Provincial Ladies Night during his last 3 years.
He would have been an excellent master mason had his life not tragically ended so abruptly. His passing has left a huge void in the lives of his family & friends and, in particular, to Las Salinas Lodge.
R.I.P. Billy, you are sorely missed!