Association’s life president Willie Roberts always kept Limerick in his heart
Based in London, Willie Roberts enjoyed career as a butcher and an engineer
ALTHOUGH he lived in London most of his life, Willie Roberts, who has gone to his God just three months before his 94th birthday, was always Limerick at heart.
Born at Carey’s Road in the city in 1933, the oldest in the family, Willie moved cross-channel initially in the 1940s, before a more permanent move later on.
There, he worked as a butcher at Walls, an engineer, and finally in Safeway supermarket.
But the link to his home city remained precious, and he always kept in touch with what was happening back in Limerick.
A keen member of the Limerick Association in London – which exists to support Treaty men and women living in the British capital – Willie was made the group’s life president.
The current secretary John Giltenan recalled how Willie was always keen to find out the results of the various Limerick teams, be it in hurling, football, or soccer.
He always checked on in Na Piarsaigh GAA.
A regular reader of this newspaper, during Covid-19, John arranged to have the Leader delivered to him every week.
Indeed, Willie’s youngest sister, Marie said when they cleared his home in Acton, West London, they found a huge back-catalogue of Limerick Leader editions, plus sporting match programmes.
It was a real pleasure for Limerick Association members to make Willie their life president.
John praised “his sincerity, passion, genuine interest in Limerick, the community in London and the association.”
"I've met loads of Limerick people in my time throughout the world. He is one of the most amazing and special people,” he added.
Willie was laid to rest alongside his family, following his funeral Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes in Acton on Thursday last, October 22.
May he rest in peace.