LOCAL historian Bill Kings, Bromsgrove's undisputed au-thority on such unlikely subjects as privies and nailmaking by hand, has decided to retire after giving talks on the subjects for 60 years.

During that time, Bill, aged 83, has both delighted and, in his own special way, informed generations of people in Bromsgrove and further afield with his talks on his two pet subjects and other topics related to Bromsgrove's past

"I have spoken to hundreds of university and college students, scores of Women's Institutes and other community groups, but I enjoyed most telling schoolchildren about how folk in the town lived and worked," he said.

Bill, Bromsgrove born and bred, drew on his memories when, as a child, he watched for hours his grandfather making nails for a book he co-wrote called Glory Gone -- a history of the once staple trade in Bromsgrove.

A keen sportsman, he also wrote the acclaimed Bromsgrove Rovers centenary book and it was not until he became an octogenarian that he gave up the job of first team trainer.

Bill's experience as a former school teacher at Watt Close and lecturer at Bromsgrove College of Further Education helps him when he gives his often highly amusing and sometimes spicy talks.

In the past many an eyebrow has been seen to lift, especially if Bill was speaking to WI members.

A familiar figure as he rides his trusty bike to town from his home in Stourbridge Road which he shares with his wife, Betty, Bill is one of the towns all too few characters.

He was Worcestershire's first King's Scout and holds the dubious distinction of being the only pupil to have been expelled from, what today is, Meadows First School in its 117-year history.

He chuckles when he recalls it was for scaling the lofty tower and tying the clapper to the bell.

Bill, who represented Sidemoor on Bromsgrove District Council for Labour after the Second World War, decided to cut back on making personal appearances and his highly acclaimed historical town walks in 1998.

That was the year he was bestowed with the honour of being made the first and only honorary life member of the Bromsgrove Society for the great contribution he has made to researching and documenting Bromsgrove's history.

However, he still carried on giving talks to schools.

He plans to present his vast collection of historical documents, books and artefacts he has used over the years in his lectures, to the town's museum and library.

Bill's last public appearance will be at the motor museum at Gaydon, in Warwickshire, in November.

He will talk about his old employers, the Austin Motor Company, where he served an engineering apprenticeship and the company's great influence on towns like Bromsgrove.