Each week Bristol Business News gives a prominent member of the city’s business community the last word on its weekly e-bulletin. This week Bill Willcocks, managing partner of Bristol-based law firm Barcan+Kirby, answers our 10 questions.
What was the last: 
Film you watched? Bohemian Rhapsody was the last one I saw at the cinema and I loved it. My trouble is that I see all the trailers and think “oh, I must see that” and then I forget.
Book you read? The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris, which could have been really good but turned out not to be. It seemed to be more about the author than the characters and seemed to me to give a sanitised version of what had happened.
Music you bought/downloaded? My wife will tell you I don’t really do music. I’m much more a speech radio person. So the last thing I can definitely remember buying was before downloads existed. I think it was David Bowie’s Let’s Dance, which I remember buying on vinyl (when vinyl was the only option) and playing it over and over again. My neighbours must have hated it.
Play you went to? Touching the Void at the Old Vic. Loved the book, loved the film and now love the stage version as well. We missed it first time round (see answer to Question 1) so made a particular effort to go when it returned and I was definitely not disappointed.
Sporting event you attended? It was the return fixture for Bristol Bears against Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park on my birthday. We were hoping that we might not be robbed as we had been in the November match at Ashton Gate, but it was not to be. And, what made it even worse, was that it was my idea to take my brother in law (a Chiefs fan) to both matches. Still, there’s always next season.
Holiday you went on? A week with my family in Tignes at February half term. It’s the only way we can get them all together. It’s a complete break from work, largely because I have to concentrate so hard to keep up with my kids that I forget everything else.
Restaurant you ate in? Bravas on Cotham Hill on Saturday. I’ve never been before and somehow we managed to get a last-minute booking. Everything we had was such top quality so I think it’s fair to say it won’t be my last visit.
Thing that annoyed you? I’m still annoyed about the ridiculous nonsense that has been the B word and the resulting chaos it has brought to our country, politics, economy and communities. Apart from the fact that I think it was a mad idea in the first place, it has led to complete stagnation of government so we are not able to focus on the really pressing things our economy needs. And surely we need to change a system which allows our prime minister to be chosen by only 120,000 people.
Thing that made you laugh out loud? A GIF my son sent me on WhatsApp in the middle of a group chat. It made me cry with laughter so that my wife videoed me and sent it back to the WhatsApp group.
Piece of good advice you were given? If you’re so confident you’re giving a good service, offer a service level guarantee.
Bill Willcocks became managing partner of Bristol-based law firm Barcan+Kirby in April 2017. He has been a partner since 2001 and was senior partner between April 2015 and March 2017. He has specialised in personal injury and dispute resolution since qualifying as a solicitor in 1994. Bill heads the firm’s litigation departments comprising medical and personal injuries, dispute resolution and employment disputes. He acts for people who have suffered accidents and injury at work, road accidents or accidents in public places and also brings or defends civil claims for businesses and individuals in areas such as breach of contract, building disputes, or where a former advisor is alleged to have given wrong advice. He is a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, which campaigns for the rights of injured people.
