One thing that really gets me

[Simon Pieman]

Actually, I believe you will find that is is HER money that has been put in!!

Erm, I don't think so.

Sir Seton is the hereditary peer of the WD & HO Wills family, not his wife.

are you sure, isnt the Wills family name hers not his....

No, it's his name.

[Bushey Boy]

Ive heard its her family who owned the tobacco company?

[figgis]

ironicly the wills family had many landmark buildings built in brizzle over the years and are on paper minted.i think if the best takeover falls thru someone will pull the plug on the club. although they are not that welcome. in the short term i doubt a fresh takeover could be completed before the league and crediters lose patience.

[Simon Pieman]

You heard wrong


http://www.thepeerage.com/p3785.htm#i37849


http://members.cox.net/ghgraham/ernestwills1869.html

[ronnie21]

Actually, I believe you will find that is is HER money that has been put in!!

Erm, I don't think so.

Sir Seton is the hereditary peer of the WD & HO Wills family, not his wife.

are you sure, isnt the Wills family name hers not his....

No, it's his name.

It may be in his name, but it is Lady Wills who actually provided the dosh.  I am not sure how it worked, but I believe some of the land that she owned was mortgaged to provide the cash.  He may be the hereditary peer but who owns the property and estate they live in?

[Crozzer]

No connection with this family?  Andy King new all about Wills Whiffs.


WD & HO Wills was founded by Henry Overton Wills (1761-1826), who opened a shop in Castle Street, Bristol in 1786. He traded as Wills, Watkins & Co, but on the retirement of his partner in 1789, the company became Wills & Co.

William Day Wills and Henry Overton Wills II succeeded their father in 1826 and, four years later, the company adopted its familiar title.

Wills was known for its family spirit and a belief that workers should enjoy themselves. The company pioneered canteens, free medical care, sports facilities and paid holidays.

It was one of the first of the larger tobacco companies to make cigarettes.

Bristol, introduced in 1871 and initially made by hand, was the first cigarette produced at the company's London factory and appeared in several guises until it was withdrawn in 1974.


Three Castles and Gold Flake followed in 1878 and Woodbine, produced on the revolutionary Bonsack machine, ten years later.

Embassy, introduced in 1914, was to repeat its initial success after re-launch as a coupon brand in 1962.

Wills' factories and offices were at the forefront of design. From the late 19th century, factories were built and extended not only in Bristol but also in London, Swindon, Dublin, Newcastle and Glasgow.
'Wills Whiffs' advertisement. Opens in new browser window


In 1974 the first cigarettes were produced at a new factory in Hartcliffe, Bristol – the largest in Europe – which closed in 1990.

Nearly 30 members of the Wills family served the company. The last, Christopher, the great-great grandson of H O Wills, retired as sales research manager in 1969.

[TalkTalk]

He may be the hereditary peer but who owns the property and estate they live in?

He does.

Well obviously she has an interest because she married in.

It is all old Wills family property and dosh.

Incidentally his wife, Gillian Eastoe doesn't feature in any peerage sites whatsoever. So where did this idea that she had money or property come from?

[Samdy Gray]

It is all old Wills family property and dosh.

Not for long, it'll be the mortgage company's soon.

[Bushey Boy]

To be honest I dont give a flying fuck if its hers or his, the fact is after all these years of him reaping the praise about saving us etc it seems he would rather take down teh club he supports and lose the money rather than lose the money but keep the club.

If he is a true fan, he wouldnt be looking to take the club down.

[TalkTalk]

To be honest I dont give a flying fuck if its hers or his, the fact is after all these years of him reaping the praise about saving us etc it seems he would rather take down teh club he supports and lose the money rather than lose the money but keep the club.

Yeah, I hear what you are saying Ash.

But the misconception that it is SSW's wife money does have some sort of impact upon motives.

If it was your wife's money and she wanted it back then that would probably have more influence than if it was yours, as a "true fan".

[Red81]

Yeah I'm sure it was more of a case that he was hoping some idiot would pay over the odds for the club so he could break even. A fan or not a fan. Money is money.

[pauld]

He may be the hereditary peer but who owns the property and estate they live in?

He does.

Well obviously she has an interest because she married in.

It is all old Wills family property and dosh.

Incidentally his wife, Gillian Eastoe doesn't feature in any peerage sites whatsoever. So where did this idea that she had money or property come from?

Erm, there's lots of people outside the peerage who have money - the idea that Lady Gillian at least used to have some money comes from the fact that a fair chunk (at least £2m) of the money the Wills family have put into the club was hers. She put in £2m shortly before the last period of administration. So, to summarise, it's his name and tobacco factory; they both (used to) have some dosh. Does it really matter?

[Bushey Boy]

If its his wifes money then fair play but he has been getting lots of interest back.