14 Facts About Sir Billy

1. Sir Billy was born in the Irish slums in New York City and raised by a single mother.

2. Sir Billy is buried in the parish of St John and his grave is shaped to represent a double bed.

3. Sir Billy opened camps at Mosney, in the soon to be Republic of Ireland, in 1948 and on Grand Bahama, in 1949.

4. Sir Billy opened his first Butlin's camp at Ingoldmells, near Skegness, on 11 April 1936.

5. Sir Billy moved to London and set up a successful stall in Olympia outside the Christmas Circus run by Bertram Mills.

6. Sir Billy purchased a hoopla stall from Hill, and ran it successfully.

7. Sir Billy proved successful in this endeavour as well, and by 1927 he opened a static fairground in Skegness.

8. Sir Billy performed a cover version of the Beatles' song "Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite" on George Martin's 1998 album, In My Life.

9. Sir Billy would take part on its spin-off series Billy.

10. Sir Billy was throwing everything away, desperately trying to feel no pain at all.

11. Sir Billy became a delivery-van driver with Bilslands' Bakery until he was sixteen when he was deemed overqualified to become an engineer.

12. Sir Billy never spoke to them about their mother's departure.

13. Sir Billy married a local 13-year-old Indian girl called Matilda.

14. Sir Billy is sometimes known, especially in his homeland, by the Scots nickname "The Big Yin".