Shortly after 91-year-old Margaret Keenan received the world’s first COVID vaccine in December, 81-year-old William Shakespeare of the United Kingdom became the first man to receive the jab back the same month at the University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire.

On May 20, Shakespeare, who had called his first jab “wonderful”, died of a stroke, as reported by the NHS Trust.

Shakespeare, called Bill by family and friends, had worked at Rolls-Royce and was also a parish councillor.  He had served his local community in Allesley for more than three decades. He used to lived in Brownshill Green, was an inpatient on the hospital’s frailty ward at the time of his first jab.

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Councillor of Coventry, Jayne Innes, a friend of Shakespeare, told BBC that he died on Thursday. He added the “best tribute to Bill is to have the jab.”

Joy, 53, wife of Shakespeare, has said in a tribute that was released through the trust, “Bill was so grateful for being offered the opportunity to become one of the first people in the world to be given the vaccine.

“It was something he was hugely proud of – he loved seeing the media coverage and the positive difference he was able to make to the lives of so many.

“He often talked to people about it and would always encourage everyone to get their vaccine whenever he could.”

Apart from his wife, Shakespeare is succeeded by two adult sons and grandchildren.

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Post-death Reactions

Shakespeare was a talented photographer and had a knack for all kinds of music, especially jazz. He regularly attended gigs to click pictures of the musicians.

Joy further added, “Bill loved meeting people and helping them in any way possible.

“Most of all he was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather, nicknamed Pop Pops by the grandchildren. He left a huge imprint on everyone who knew him and will be greatly missed,” reported BBC.

She added that Shakespeare had always been proud to belong from Coventry. He had served as a governor at Allesley Primary and Coundon Court schools.

Innes wrote in a Facebook post, “Bill will be remembered for many things, including a taste for mischief.”

West Midlands Labour group tweeted, “Bill made global headlines as 1st first man to have Covid vaccine. His decades of service to the party were recently recognised by Keir Starmer. Our thoughts are with Joy and Bill’s family & friends.”

Councillor Angela Hopkins said that Shakespeare had helped her when she had campaigned for the Bablake ward.

“He was very thoughtful and always, in his work as a parish councillor, very much putting forward the concerns and views of the local residents in his area,” BBC quoted Hopkins as saying.