Vale John (Wheels) Williams
…. remembered by only a few these days.
Andy C said he was doing ok, spending a lot of time sitting in a chair remembering each of the thousands of waves he caught. Mate of Cochran, Magoo, Bennett, Mayes, Dillon, Ross … these blokes travelled everywhere, rode everything and we looked up to them.
Rightfully so.
Mayes, Magoo and Dillon in Hawaii .. proof that dropping in was fun.
Bennett, Wheels, de Ruiter – proof that going for the lobster is a legitimate move.
Mike Bennett, France .. proof that being called a kook doesn’t mean you are one
Wheels died yesterday
To all John’s friends,
John passed peacefully in a care home yesterday. His wife and son, Janice and Keone, sister law Jan, Andy, Pam and I were with him at the time.
I really know how much all of you cared for John, what a great mate we had in our lives! Now he will live on with us thru our memories and stories of all the fun times we had together. There will be a service at the Outrigger C C, when I don’t know, I’ll stay in touch.
Aloha,
Mike Bennett
petebowes.com 
Lots of great memories Pete, and hopefully a few more to come. Andy and I will tell Wheels a lot of guys are thinking of him and wishing him and his family their very best.
I remember those days on the North Shore..bet I took that lobster/fish photo. We used to have lobster for all our meals. …..got sick of it..hahahheehaw. Wheels a kind and generous soul. Always encouraged me with my tennis…and cooking too..more heehaw. Wonderful memories..thanks Wheels. I hope all the good memories he helped us make are what are in his thoughts now.
Caught up with Wheels in May at his home together with AC. He’s 82 this year and spends most days sitting on his bed watching tennis on TV. Can’t remember much but still has that cheeky grin.
They provided a foundation stone upon which Bondi’s surfing heritage proudly sits today. They have been rightfully and respectfully remembered in a now completed 2 hour TV documentary called ” BONDI FOREVER” which will be broadcast internationally via National Geographic in the next month or two.
A lot is owed to those free spirited sons of Bondi who set up the original South Bondi Surf Board Riders Club .
Don’t worry Pete, a Surfing Museum in the Pavilion will ensure they aren’t forgotten .
wheels is rememembered with awe and effect ion in the UK, a full on legend !
Henry. …. out with it, spin us a yarn.
Henry, who are ya? I agree, tell us a story! Hey, anybody out there on the island of Jersey? We had a great week there and the Jersey boys in the surf club sure did the right thing by us.
Wheels was like a big brother to me. We lived together in Hawaii, on the north shore, and in town. We surfed together, we played tennis together, we dived together, and we had lots of good times together. Although I am far away, my heart is with him, and all the great times we had . ALOHA old mate…….( OLD SURFERS DON’T DIE, THEY JUST FADE LEFT )
He’s gone now but not forgotten. Last Friday after his “Celebration of life” we paddled out in Outrigger canoes to Old Mans surf spot off Diamond Head. We spread his ashes amongst flowers into the beautiful blue Pacific Ocean. One day I’ll join him there. Aloha, John Wheels Williams.
Surfed Sunset with ‘Wheels’ days, and waited tables at Kuilima at night. True gentleman of the sea, will be missed by many.
WHEELS,
WHAT A GUY,LUCKY,I NEW JOHN FOR OVER 60,YEARS,AND LIVED ,SURFED, TENNIS.NOT TO MANY OF US CAN SAY WE DIDNT LEAVE A STONE UN TURNED,THAT WAS WHEELS ,THE BEST FRIEND A GUY COULD EVER HAD,HE WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR ME,DURING MY THREE DIVORCES,NEW ALL MY EX WIFES,I WAS THERE WITH BENNETT,,RICK,,AMADEI,,PAUL,,WHEN HE MARRIED JANIS ,TO THE END,HE WAS THERE FOR ME ,MY FIRST ,,MY 2ND,,MY THIRD,I GUESS IF YOU COUNT HOW LONG JOHN HAS BEEN MARRIED TO JANNIS,,AND MY THREE,PLUS A FEW CLOSE SHAVES,WE SHARE THE SAME TIME,
BUT ,NO MORE WEDDINGS ,OR DIVORCES,.
WHEELS I WANT THANK YOU ,FOR BEING THERE FOR ME ,AND ALL THE STORIES,AND MEMORIES,YOU AND I SHARED AND THE HARD TIMES YOU HELPED ME THROUGH,
I WILL MISS YOU MY OLD MATE,AS ALL I HAVE LEFT IS DOOLEY,RICK ,AMADEI ,AND BENNETT,,BUT LIKE ME ALL OF US WILL MISS YOU ,,
SO ON THE 20,TH,OF FEB WE WILL SHED YOUR LAST OF YOUR ASHES,AND ALL OF US WITH YOU,AS WE HAVE BEEN THERE FOR EACH OTHER FOR MANY MOONS,
SO OLD SON ,IF YOU ARE WITH DILLON,MAGOO,BLUE,,THE RAT,YOUR IN GOOD COMPANY
OUR LOVE FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS,AND MINDS
ANDY,C,BENNETT,RICK,DOOLEY,AMADEI AND PAUL,
Hey Andy et al..why does noone mention me,Adrian, Mike Bennetts first wife….. I spent many good times with you all over the best 10 years ..my youth. So much lobster on the north shore we got sick of it. Endless meals at pieces of eight and that great Mexican restaurant in Kaimuki… John helped me with my tennis..always with his patient way and encouragement. I remember when he met Janis and we lived at 250 Oahu. I remember Bunny who lived with me for a few months when she moved to Hawaii with Angel from LA to be with John and then her honey chicken she made along with stuffed lychee at their place in Manoa before he met Janis…along with our endless card games. I remember when Mike and my dog Charlie got his little wiener into their dogs bitch britches and we almost scaled the dogs when we put them in the shower with hot instead of cold water. OK that does sound weird ..it was only the dogs little wiener..we all know Mike as the “Cannon”. I remember waiting forever on the beach until sunset waiting to leave the beach while everyone sat out on boards still waiting for the perfect wave of the day. To John may u always have sunset and end your day with the perfect wave.
ANDY.C
JOHNS ,GONE,THERE IS NOT A DAY GOES BY,THAT I DONT SEE OR FEEL HE IS CLOSE BY,60,YEARS,SOUNDS A LOT ,BUT ITS GONE,AND 40 HERE IN HAWAII,WITH HIM,
STILL WILL NOT FORGET THE DAY,HE SAID 40,YEARS,COCHRAN,GIVE UP QANTAS WE NEED A 4,TH FOR DOUBLES,
NOW RICK HAS GONE HOME,BENNETT IS ON THE MAIN LAND,WHEELS HAS GONE.
ALL OF A SUDDEN ,PARADISE IS A LONELY PLACE WITH OUT YOUR CLOSE MATES,
THANK GOD I STILL HAVE RICK,DOOLEY,AND AMADEI,IN AUST,ITS A LONG WAY TO FLY,BUT HOW MANY MORE FLIGHTS DO WE HAVE LEFT,
BUT I CAN ALWAYS,WHEELS RICK AND BENNETT,MADE HAWAII,HOME FOR ME,
I MISS ALL YOU GUYS,WISH I WAS THERE ,OR YOU WERE HERE.
THANKS FOR ALL THE MEMORIES,WITH OUT THEM .I WOULD HAVE NO STORIES
THANKS GUYS ,FOR ALL THE TIMES TENNIS,WOMAN SURFING,
I HOPE THEY NEVER END
ANDY.C
They only made one ANDY.C , and that’s ^ him.