Perhaps due to growing up in the civic environs and architecture of Glasgow in the late 30s, Bill was influenced in part by a love of grand Art Deco design. As a young designer at Whitehorn Bros 37 Hatton Garden London EC1 in the early 60s he witnessed the dismantling of exquisitely designed Deco style pieces from the 1920s and 1930s that would be remodelled into contemporary designs for customers. This remodelling to follow fashion trends has always been standard practice in the jewellery and gem trade. He spoke about the loss of examples of beautiful art deco design from this pre war period with sadness.

While Bill worked at Whitehorn Bros he designed a brooch for the Queen and her sister Princess Margaret. Mum spotted the Queen wearing hers on TV at the time and was forever perturbed with the unsuitable choice of ‘loud tweed’ coat that she wore it on.