Thank you and goodbye to Sir Bill Rollo

Please join us in wishing Lt Gen Sir Bill Rollo KCB CBE the best of luck as he completes his tenure as Vice Chairman of the CWGC.

Sir Bill joined the Commission in 2013, serving as one of our commissioners, including leading its Centenary Committee and Audit and Finance Committees. He succeeded Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, KCVO, CB, ADC(P) as Vice Chairman in July 2019.

The Commission has undergone major changes and evolutions during his term. Not only did we transition to a new Director General, but we did so in the midst of a global pandemic.

Over the last four years, we have seen a huge restoration project of the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme and begun another on the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial, announced the construction of a new memorial in Cape Town, South Africa, as well as an extension to Loos British Cemetery in France.

Sir Bill has represented the Commission at a number of major anniversaries for the two world wars, at reburials and rededications, and has visited our sites and met staff members across the globe.

His hard work and passion for the work of the Commission is second to none, and his guidance and support over the last four years has been invaluable.

Director General Claire Horton CBE said: “It is with a sad heart that we bid farewell to Sir Bill Rollo. His unstinting service to the CWGC over the last decade has not only ensured our organisation remains true to its noble duty but through a programme of continuous improvement and modernisation, is fit to embrace the opportunities of the present and future. I will greatly miss his knowledge, support, and guidance and on behalf of the entire staff of the Commission, we say a very fond and sincere thank you, and send our best wishes for the future.”

We wish Sir Bill all the best in his next chapter, and look forward to welcoming him back to our sites in the future.