Arthur Bill

Arthur Bill (1916-2011) and his wife Berta started working as house parents in the Hamburger Haus in 1948. Within one year Arthur Bill replaced Fritz Wetzel as head of the Children’s Village. Bill shaped the Children's Village by establishing new organisational structures. He also actively encouraged community life by introducing rituals and festivities. It is thanks to him that the events of the first 25 years are excellently documented in word and image. He successfully interested numerous public figures in the works of the Children’s Village.  Bill tried to present the Children's Village in its best light to ensure a steady flow of donations. The era Bill ended in 1973 when Bill was appointed to set-up the Schweizerische Katastrophenhilfekorps (today Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit SHA).

Arthur Bill lived after the death of his wife Berta in a Senior Citizens' Residence in Bern. He died during the night of April 6th 2011 at the age of 95.