Former serviceman and security guard from Holyhead tells his story

Dec 1 2010 by Rhodri Barker, Bangor and Anglesey Mail

A FORMER serviceman and security guard who rubbed shoulders with the stars is writing his autobiography.

Bill Rielly, of Holyhead, will recount his experiences from Cyprus to the London Palladium in his new book, and is seeking local help to piece together his account of his Anglesey childhood.

Mr Rielly was born in Holyhead in 1946, and remembers his early years as “a good and healthy life”.

His family lived in the Nissen huts vacated by naval personnel after the Second World War, and later moved to the town’s newly built “prefabs”.

“The Nissen huts were cold, with bomb-proof windows you couldn’t see through, and outside toilets,” he said.

“The prefabs were absolute luxury compared to that; they had fridges, and hot and cold running water.”

However, his childhood was also tainted by sadness, as Mr Rielly’s brother drowned in Holyhead dock at the age of 11.

Mr Rielly joined the military police in 1964 and remained in the services for 40 years.

“I was going to stay for three years and then join the civil police, but I liked it so much I stayed until 1986,” he said.

“My first posting was in Cyprus, but I visited Aden, Malta and Northern Ireland.

“During my service, I spent 11 years in total in Germany.”

After leaving the forces, Mr Rielly was a security supervisor at the News International printing plant in Wapping, the scene of industrial action by newspaper workers.

“We got bricked every day but, compared to Northern Ireland, it was a doddle,” he said.

Mr Rielly then moved into the world of showbiz, working as security on TV sets and at the London Palladium.

During this time, he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Shirley Bassey, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eartha Kitt and the Pet Shop Boys.

He also acted as a bodyguard for members of Arab royalty, including the daughter of a Saudi Arabian king and the Sultan of Oman.

Mr Rielly is now “medically retired” following a triple bypass operation, and lives in Aldershot with his wife.

“I’m really looking forward to writing the book,” he said.

“It will be a real mix of emotions, and will bring back so many characters from Holyhead and from my days in the army.”

Anyone with information on the Nissen huts or prefabs in Holyhead should contact pam.taffrielly@talktalk.net.

rhodri.barker