I’ve always been pleased that my parents named me William. It’s a name rich with history and gravitas. Our current heir to the throne is named William — and just think of all the other notable Williams throughout history. Of course there is the bard himself, William Shakespeare, but there has also been William the Conqueror, Just William and William of Orange.
I wish I was a William of something, but I suppose I’m just good old William (of Nether Padley, Derbyshire). Maybe I should go around, all grandiose like, calling myself ‘William of Nether Padley’. I can imagine the guys down the pub taking the rise! They’d probably throw their darts or pints (unlikely) at me!
There is a modern William who appears to be attracting a lot of attention in the media of late. He is also lucky enough to have an ‘of’ attached to his name — a very general one at that. I am referring of course to William of the People. I’m sure you’ve read about him in the papers or on the internet. Most just call him ‘Will’ (same with me, that’s how most of my friends and family address me). Will of the People. That’s really notable. It’s not like he’s relevant to a particular place like Orange or Nether Padley, but he’s relevant to the people — to all the people. I think he had something to do with Brexit, because whenever there’s an argument between people who voted remain and those who voted leave, the leavers normally invoke William’s name. ‘Will of the People’ they will say, and they seem to think that settles it.
What an omniscient individual this particular William must be. You know, you’re having this massive debate with all these different issues (I know from experience — we had loads down the pub around the time of the referendum) and all someone needs to do is to invoke this William guy and, apparently that’s that! I want to meet him and ask him some questions. Yes I’ll ask him how come he knows that Brexit is such a good idea, but other stuff too — do aliens exist? Am I ever going to get married? Should I go into farming or maybe go into fishing? What? Yes, I know Nether Padley is pretty landlocked but I’ve always fantasised about a life on the ocean wave.
Will of the People eh? I guess he’ll go into the history books one day much like Shakespeare, William of Orange or all those other famous Williams. I wonder what people will say about him? Somehow I don’t think William of Nether Padley will ever become famous. The guys at the pub might talk about me and the good old days in the pub after I’ve gone, but that’s about the best I can can hope for I suppose.
