A COMMUNITY campaigner who fought tirelessly on behalf of some of Reading's most vulnerable people has died aged 80.

William "Bill" Gulliver MBE was best-known to many for his fundraising marathons, despite being certified blind, but his efforts to tackle homelessness as a mature student in the 1970s helped found a movement that evolved into the charity today known as Launchpad.

Born in 1936 Bill grew up without visual impairment but as a young man when he slowly began to lose his vision, he sought innovative and resourceful ways to live on unimpeded.

Marrying his beloved wife Pam at St Matthew's Church, Bayswater, in 1962 the pair did not make Reading their home until 1976 when they both signed up at the town's university as mature students.

While there they became part of a student revolution that sought to help the homeless population of the town.

In spite of his blindness Bill would regularly join fellow students on late night escapades into abandoned buildings and woodland in an effort to bring food, clothing and compassion to those who had nowhere else to turn.

Friend and classmate Jim Ledwidge described his bravery and said: "It was pretty dangerous what we did, we used to go out to these derelict houses and there was this amazing guy who was blind but still came along.

"He used to stride around the university without any fear, it was amazing to see.

"Bill left me with a lasting impression of someone who would not let a little thing like not being able to see get in the way and was very much someone who thought of others."

Starting soup runs and grassroots efforts to establish the level of homelessness in the town in the mid- to late-seventies Bill and his friends went on to help found the Reading Emergency Accommodation Project.

Through the years these charitable homes and organisations evolved into today's charity Launchpad and the story of how this all happened was set in writing last year by Bill himself when he penned a mini-history pamphlet on the subject.

Aside from working direct with vulnerable people he also proudly ran more than 100 marathons and undertook and charity parachute jump with the help of guides.

One of his aids Lucy Roper said: "I ran numerous events with him, as his guide but being the most accident prone person on the planet, Bill would often end up helping me more often than not and a few times race marshals would think I was the blind person.

"We used to laugh about it all the time and had a great bond when it came to participating in major sporting events.

"Just looking back at the photos reminds me of the eccentric nature, the loud clothes and personality to go with it. He raised everyone's spirits when he walked into a room."

Bill was also awarded an MBE in The Queen's 2012 birthday honours list for his voluntary service and work with Thames Valley Police to create a safety CD for blind people. He died on April 21.

Sir David Bell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said: "Bill and his beloved Pam were graduates and great friends of the University.

"Bill had a profound love of music and supported a number of our activities. He was a familiar and friendly face on campus and he will be sorely missed."

Did you know Bill? Send in your tributes in the comments below or to news@readingchronicle.co.uk