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Born on the family farm in Cheshire on 22 November, 1923, Bill Denson was the only boy of six children. Sadly, his mother died that December and it was left to his father to bring up the youngsters.
The family had racing interests and connections: Bill's father had a few good point-to-pointers which he raced and hunted regularly and Bill's cousin, George Owen, had ridden Brendan's Cottage to win the 1939 Cheltenham Gold Cup before, as trainer, sending out Russian Hero from his stables at Malpas, Cheshire, to win the 1949 Grand National.
Bill, aged 14, left school in 1937 and was taken on as a stable lad at George Digby's stable at Exning, Newmarket. When racing was halted at the start of the war, Bill attempted to join the armed service but, having been born with a twisted foot, was rejected on medical grounds.
Instead, Bill found work at Jack Colling's nearby Newmarket yard, and rode work out each morning.
When, in 1944, Gerry Wilson began training at Andoversford, George Owen arranged for Bill to join him. Bill's first winner came two years later aboard Tintern Abbey at Woore.
One afternoon in 1947 at Birmingham races Bill was getting changed next to legendary jockey Bryan Marshall when a frustrated trainer,
Billy Smallwood, entered, complaining that he still hadn't found a jockey to ride his National entry, Shanakill. Bryan pointed to Bill, saying: ' This fellow will give him a good ride.'
Bill and Shanakill got as far as the Canal Turn which the horse clipped violently, giving Bill no chance of staying in the saddle (right).
The pair reappeared the following week, at Southwell. Once again, Bill was thrown, but remounted to finish fourth.
His last win came on Allen's Bridge in September, 1949.
Bill continued riding until 1950 when a crashing fall punctured his lung, thus ending his career.
Staying in the game, he became travelling head lad to Gerry Wilson before, five years later, joining Tom Yates, again as travelling head lad.
By 1961, Bill turned to training, sending out his first winner with just his third runner, Midanne. Probably the best horse he sent out was Princeful, who ran ninth in the 1968 Grand National.
Bill eventually retired to Gloucester where he lived in 'Hill View', a cottage in the village of Weston-Sub-Edge.
It was here, 25 years later, in September 2009, that Bill passed away, having lived a full and fruitful life.
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