Bill Crooks - H. B. (Bill) Williams

H. B. (Bill) Williams

In the 1960s, when Douglas Cook was aging and desperately seeking ways to secure the future of Eastwoodhill, Bill Crooks still worked for him. He first tried to offer the arboretum to the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture. But after long negotiations, this did not became reality. One of the other things Douglas Cook considered was selling to Bill Crooks, knowing the difficulties implied in this solution. Finally, in 1965, H. B. (Bill) Williams bought Eastwoodhill to preserve it for the future. With the money, Douglas Cook wanted to upgrade and paint his house and Bill Crooks', and put in an "inside lav" for Bill.

But soon after selling Eastwoodhill, William Douglas Cook had two heart attacks. Arrangements were made for the Crooks to move into his home so that they could be constantly on hand. In 1966 his health got worse. He spent some time in a hospital. Bill and Jo Crooks paid him almost constant attention. Douglas later wrote that his doctor wanted him to engage someone to look after him "but I said NO. Bill will look after me. HE and his wife do all I need... Bill is like a most attentive son to me.".

Douglas Cook died in 1967. Crooks would remain the manager of the arboretum until 1974. He helped Bob Berry to create the first catalogue of Eastwoodhill in the early 1970s.