WSM TRIBUTE to BILL SHIPTON after 9 YEARS It was a great shock when my colleague and friend Bill Shipton passed away on 5th July 2013 at the age of only 57. I first met Bill under his true name of Clive Harris in 1983. His passing in 2013 has been deeply felt in the UK community as he was one of the very few full time WAM activists, working as producer, director, film editor for his website, plus being a writer and Forum host. The introduction of a studio and a devoted 'Splosh' website had changed Bill's direction.
Bill Shipton was the cheery face of UK WAM and a friend to all. So the WAM community lost an icon. Such a much loved chap and an inspirational man. He gave us the term Splosh! He taught us to try Splosh with our partners and not be afraid of being you! So Bill was a man of many talents who made a huge impact on so many lives a wonderful legacy! Pre-Internet many people thought they were alone until they came across Bill with his saucy, cheery movies plus his Splosh magazine. Bill became the kind and funny public face of WAM. It is a rare individual that not only influences but is so liked by so many.
So although we celebrate his achievements there is distinct nostalgia for what there could have been! Bill is missed along with his talents, but new wammers now have no grasp of what he did achieve with no access to his movies, sketches, images, his website and the remarkable Splosh magazines.
Bill's niche was in adult magazines. We must admire his remarkable talent, for it is one thing to be paid for your work but quite another to put together a new magazine and manage to produce 40 issues. A year ago I took a personal look at the first 10 issues of the 'Splosh' magazine, many of which included WSM content. This year I am publishing the cover pics of Splosh issues numbers 11 to 26. Only one edition involved WSM. This is number 13 featuring Lorraine on the cover. Inside there is a mud shoot (by me) of Carol with Lorraine (see also shot 13a).
Imagine the work that went into planning, preparing then publishing such magazines. So Bill Shipton holds a unique niche in WAM history.
WAM may roughly be divided into 2 groups, Voyeurs and Participators. WSM have catered adequately for the Voyeur, but Bill and his website opened the window to many a tortured soul, who believed that they were alone and were very odd people. Bill welcomed all and opened studio facilities for participators.
So it was appropriate earlier this year that Candy Custard received the 1st 'Bill Shipton Award for Lifetime Achievement'. Providing facilities for participators is a noble purpose and has saved huge mental anguish for some.
Sadly WAM is a minority fetish. So no-one has stepped forward to continue Bill's paternal role on counseling all on the joys of Splosh. Let us hope something will happen in time for Bill's 10th Anniversary next year.
A lovely tribute to Bill, I didn't have the pleasure of meeting him but without him and of course later UMD I wouldnt have know how normal this all is. I love seeing those early messy images so nostalgic.
Thank you Mike for keeping the memories of Bill alive. I can still remember my reaction on seeing Splosh magazine for the first time and realising that other people felt the same way I did about getting messy. There was no internet back in those days and Bill truly was a remarkable man. I am just sad that I never got to meet him. It doesn't seem like 9 years have passed since we sadly lost him. RIP
I remember when Bill came to our North-west area splunch meeting. We got on like a house on fire. Much the same sense of humour and quirky interests (other than WAM, too). A few of us went on to have an excellent meal before escorting him back to his hotel for the night. A great loss, as you say.
As mentioned elsewhere, MuckyPup (who used to administer the Splosh! Forum for Bill) managed to port it over to a new address (http://www.sploshuk.co.uk/forum/) so Bill's original posts are still available to read but we were thwarted in our attempt to rescue the original Splosh! website, which was grabbed by scammers who still have it and purport to sell Bill's materials (which, of course, they don't have).
Presumably they are working on the premise that those who get caught out and part with money for non-existent materials will be too embarrassed to report the loss to the authorities (and the scammers will also have their card details too).
I still remember chatting to Bill at that legendary Birmingham Splunch, at just about everyone from the UK scene was at. An incredibly lovely man and a fascinating conversation. Like Rob Blaine of Messy Fun, he is still missed.
Lizzie_Claymore said: (re splosh.co.uk) Presumably they are working on the premise that those who get caught out and part with money for non-existent materials will be too embarrassed to report the loss to the authorities (and the scammers will also have their card details too).
It's even simpler than that, it's just a keyword search boost for the person who's contact details are listed on the front page. None of the purchase pages actually have "Buy" links so there isn't anywhere you can submit an order or card details (because Nominet would have axed them pronto if that was what they were doing), instead it's all about Google Juice. TBH I suspect it probably doesn't count for much after all this time, but still they hang onto it.
DungeonMasterOne said: It's even simpler than that, it's just a keyword search boost for the person who's contact details are listed on the front page. None of the purchase pages actually have "Buy" links so there isn't anywhere you can submit an order or card details (because Nominet would have axed them pronto if that was what they were doing), instead it's all about Google Juice. TBH I suspect it probably doesn't count for much after all this time, but still they hang onto it.
Ah, right. Not quite sure I understand how it actually helps the person listed on the front page but just as well that they can't actually scam money out of people. I did track that at the time through WhoIs listings via what looked like a legit company (something like a fake estate agent IIRC) and eventually to an address in Australia but then the trail went cold as the (physical) address of the house in question had just been sold.
WAM Life phase 1: Believing you are alone WAM Life phase 2: Realising there are others in the world WAM Life phase 3: Realising there are others in your part of the world, and it really is a thing (it was thanks to Bill's TV appearances that I discovered this last step, and was off to Soho to buy a copy of Gooey Girlies!)
May he rest in peace. Splosh magazine woke me. A friend gave me the url for splosh. I didn't even know there existed something like that. From Splosh I got Messyfun and Rob Blaine. Then Leah and Messygirl. And now I am here.
Rest in peace, Bill. His appearance on Real Sex in the 90's made me aware that I wasn't alone. A decade later I was producing my own videos, and he reached out to me to compliment my work. I've got nothing but respect for the man, and I'm glad I was able to interact with him.
WSMProductions said: WSM TRIBUTE to BILL SHIPTON after 9 YEARS It was a great shock when my colleague and friend Bill Shipton passed away on 5th July 2013 at the age of only 57. I first met Bill under his true name of Clive Harris in 1983. His passing in 2013 has been deeply felt in the UK community as he was one of the very few full time WAM activists, working as producer, director, film editor for his website, plus being a writer and Forum host. The introduction of a studio and a devoted 'Splosh' website had changed Bill's direction.
Bill Shipton was the cheery face of UK WAM and a friend to all. So the WAM community lost an icon. Such a much loved chap and an inspirational man. He gave us the term Splosh! He taught us to try Splosh with our partners and not be afraid of being you! So Bill was a man of many talents who made a huge impact on so many lives a wonderful legacy! Pre-Internet many people thought they were alone until they came across Bill with his saucy, cheery movies plus his Splosh magazine. Bill became the kind and funny public face of WAM. It is a rare individual that not only influences but is so liked by so many.
So although we celebrate his achievements there is distinct nostalgia for what there could have been! Bill is missed along with his talents, but new wammers now have no grasp of what he did achieve with no access to his movies, sketches, images, his website and the remarkable Splosh magazines.
Bill's niche was in adult magazines. We must admire his remarkable talent, for it is one thing to be paid for your work but quite another to put together a new magazine and manage to produce 40 issues. A year ago I took a personal look at the first 10 issues of the 'Splosh' magazine, many of which included WSM content. This year I am publishing the cover pics of Splosh issues numbers 11 to 26. Only one edition involved WSM. This is number 13 featuring Lorraine on the cover. Inside there is a mud shoot (by me) of Carol with Lorraine (see also shot 13a).
Imagine the work that went into planning, preparing then publishing such magazines. So Bill Shipton holds a unique niche in WAM history.
WAM may roughly be divided into 2 groups, Voyeurs and Participators. WSM have catered adequately for the Voyeur, but Bill and his website opened the window to many a tortured soul, who believed that they were alone and were very odd people. Bill welcomed all and opened studio facilities for participators.
So it was appropriate earlier this year that Candy Custard received the 1st 'Bill Shipton Award for Lifetime Achievement'. Providing facilities for participators is a noble purpose and has saved huge mental anguish for some.
Sadly WAM is a minority fetish. So no-one has stepped forward to continue Bill's paternal role on counseling all on the joys of Splosh. Let us hope something will happen in time for Bill's 10th Anniversary next year.
It was due to Bill that I found out that it wasn't just me that liked to get messy an article in the Sunday Sport was the start. So well said Mike we, even those who will have never heard of him, all owe a great deal to him RIP Bill.
Thanks Mike, for a great tribute and for keeping Bill alive in our memories.
It's a source of great sadness that I never got to meet the man whose work inspired me so much, and who informed the style of film I make even now.
I only attended my first Splunch in 2015 and by then he was gone, way too young.
I do like to hope that somewhere, he is able to know that so many people still appreciate his pioneering path, and that good people like Mike are making sure his great work is never forgotten.
I will never forget the day I found this famous Splosh! magazines in a adult shop ... They have been expensive but I had to by them.... From that moment I was hooked
R.I.P. Bill, Thanks for all the wet messy fun we've all had and still enjoying it...what a Pioneer and now it's more like Pie In Ear and everywhere else. Thanks again Bill we will never forget you.
I met Bill in early 2000 for a Splosh session at his studio in Hastings. Had three sessions that afternoon and then went to the pub across the street with Bill and Tracy afterwards. Was a really nice guy. Had quite a few of his magazines and VHS tapes.
At the time I had an early digital camera and he was so fascinated by it and kept taking loads of pictures and videos for me with it
I loved Bill so much. It's so cruel that we were only just getting started with collaboration ideas and none of it got to happen, nor any more of his amazing solo work (and past collabs with others)
Thanks for the mention re: lifetime award. I still feel cringingly undeserving, but it's given me a kick up the arse to attempt to feel worthy, to keep improving, adding more variety and hopefully getting to a position again where I can film more silly slapstick comedy projects - these tend to be longer and very expensive but I love doing them when in a position to.
Sessions wise I am aiming to reopen again - I have a few lined up that I owe to people from an attempt to reopen before life made other plans for me again. Once I've caught up on those and some core variety filming, I wanna get back to my roots with in person sessions.
The initial break I took due to hair loss then spread into the pandemic and all the crappy things that happened family wise during it and problems with my health and has as a result been way too lengthy - but trying to find the positive side, I've had time to know myself better and work out how to make everything easier without mentally burning out or ruining my hair or my spine. So fingers crossed for sessions 2:0 asap
Anyway enough about me - thanks for this tribute and for keeping the legendary work fresh in our minds. Bill is unmatchable but he sure is a wonderful inspiration, with both sessions and films.
Anyway, may I suggest a fitting tribute to Bill and to "Splosh" as we approach Year 10 of his passing? Let's have producers recreate some of his most famous scenes with current models and video standards. I'm sure they would sell, and I'm sure that they would find customers willing to sponsor them. I myself would certainly help fund a reshoot of "Slime Suspect" or "Splosh the Boss."
Rob Blaine's epic bakery piefight has been remade by a modern producer. Let's get some of Bill silly, messy, and corny skits redone, too.
As one of the last to receive the 'Bill treatment' at his St Leonard's studio, I have very warm memories of a gentle, funny man with whom I shared a similar sense of humour. It was a day that is firmly fixed in my memory. I am so pleased to have met Bill.
Where I don't think we could ever do a full recreation, we have plans for scenes that channel some of Bill's fully clothed work, I love the scene where a maid is being trained to be all polite and say "thank you very much sir" even when a customer pours baked beans down her cleavage, and ultimately the manageress training her has to demonstrate the same skills while having her suit given the same treatment. Been toying with doing a version of that for a while. Bill's real genius was in comic timing and the resigned attitude his about to be gunged models portrayed as they accepted their fates. Absolute class and much harder to do than it looks.
overallsfann said: Bills legacy is surely the incredible back catalog of printed and digital media he created. What has happened to all that?
"Bill's family didn't approve of his Sploshing activities and as he'd not left a will the ownership of his videos, etc, reverted to them, and they wanted it all taken down. They are no longer available."
His videos and of course magazine paved the way for the WAM scene, even adopting the terms of 'splosh/sploshing'
I can remember seeing an advert, believe it or not in a National newspaper (I think it was the Daily Star), for his video 'Pretty Clumsy Woman'. I vividly remember seeing the infamous picture of Louise Hodges with the pie on her head (the cover of the video, and issue 11), and thinking, wow I gotta have that video.
During the same month, it may have been only few days, there was an article in 'Bizarre Magazine', basically as they put it, the fetish of getting aroused from tipping the contents of your fridge over yourself or partner. I suppose that's one way of putting it. At the end of the article was an address for Splosh.
So I sent off a letter. Please remember this was at a time when the Internet was not mainstream.
About a week later, I received a large A4 envelope, with a order form, some video sleeves, and a nice letter back from Bill himself.
I instantly ordered a few magazines and videos. And so started my WAM (Splosh) adventures.
His videos were done in a style, that was unique and fun, combining eroticism and slapstick, which is hard to do, but Bill did it brilliantly.
One of my favourite all time scenes is Rachel Stevens reading the news on 'Gooey Girlies', absolute epic.
I was in correspondence with Bill a few times, although sadly didn't meet him in person. He was a true gentleman, very down to earth and 'let's go to the pub', some very interesting conversations.
I did a mock up sleeve for 'Hot Coffee and Sticky Buns', when he started doing DVDs, although it wasn't used as he was concentrating on the website and downloads more at the time, (the Internet had moved on now and was the next big thing).
The magazine itself was one of a kind, and since it ended, there has been nothing like it, the odd messy set in some top shelf magazines (Razzle, Fiesta, etc.), but nothing like a Splosh magazine. From issue 25 the Splosh logo that we know and love was used, and appeared on ever issue going forward as well as the website.
In honour of the great man, I've remixed some issues of the magazine, some with totally new covers, some in a subtle way a bit of a spot the difference. These remixed covers are to keep the Splosh legacy going, and to show some of the fantastic pictures the magazine offered.
DungeonMasterOne said: Where I don't think we could ever do a full recreation, we have plans for scenes that channel some of Bill's fully clothed work, I love the scene where a maid is being trained to be all polite and say "thank you very much sir" even when a customer pours baked beans down her cleavage, and ultimately the manageress training her has to demonstrate the same skills while having her suit given the same treatment. Been toying with doing a version of that for a while. Bill's real genius was in comic timing and the resigned attitude his about to be gunged models portrayed as they accepted their fates. Absolute class and much harder to do than it looks.
The maid training scene involved Sammy Jane and her then sister-in-law! It featured some very spontaneous dialogue. For example, when turning the tables and decorating Sammy's custard pies: "I'm going to enjoy this!" Bill always seemed to get his models relaxed in their scenes.