William (Bill) Stevenson Air Navigator, Royal Air Force

William (Bill) Stevenson was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on November 14, 1920. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force in Belfast in 1939 and received basic training in England and Egypt. Further training took him to South Africa, where he attended RAF 41 Air School, successfully completing the requirements to become an Air Navigator. A photo of his certificate is shown below, and reads:

“Greetings to Cadet Stevenson, W., who, on this 9th day of June 1944, attained the required standard of proficiency enabling him to serve as an Air Navigator in His Majesty’s Royal Air Force and entitling him to wear the Air Navigators’ Flying Badge. 

“We, the undersigned, wish him every success in his future tasks and in upholding the ideals and traditions of the Service in which he is honoured to serve.” Bill then served as Air Navigator in bombing missions in the Middle East, and over Germany. 

Upon his discharge in 1945 he returned to Belfast where he obtained the Cost Accountant Certificate and was employed in Belfast from 1946 to 1953, when he emigrated to Canada, settling eventually in Toronto. He joined Canada Cottons and became Division Manager over 4 plants. He switched jobs and worked for Canada Wire & Cable, rising to VP, Manufacturing & Finance and General Manager.

In 1964 he became Vice President of Noranda Mines, responsible for 37 manufacturing plants in 7 countries. Five years later he was named to the “Who’s Who in Canadian Manufacturing Industry”. Ultimately, he left Noranda to become a self-employed entrepreneur. He owned Millbrook Industries and Swan Piper, and became CEO of the public company G. Sparling Ltd. He was part of a consortium of Formosa Brewery, as well as a Director of Benson & Hedges. 

During his time in the RAF he married Jane (Jean) Larmour in Belfast, 1943, while on a weekend leave from training in England. Jean was a Warden during the Battle of Britain air raids on Belfast by night and worked in a bomb-making factory by day. Together they raised three children: Norma Bertuzzi (Uxbridge/Port Perry), Jennifer Purkis, and Bill Stevenson Jr. Bill’s interests included bowling, lawn bowling, and golf. He was always willing to explore new business opportunities, and travelled the world in his Noranda job meeting with Princes, government leaders, Governors, and Senators. He moved to Port Perry in 1997, and died in 2010 at age 90.

We thank him for his service.

Photo 1 – Bill’s certificate from Royal Air Force 41 Air School, South Africa.