IF THE MYSTERY men and women at the Honours' Awards body ever opt to bestow an OBE, MBE or even a knighthood on Bill Williams (Heaven forbid! - Ed.), it's got to be for outspoken courage and long service to promoting and reporting on the visual arts.

Mind you, such recognition would also have to be based on the not-so-gentle arts of coercion, silver tongued persuasion, unbridled enthusiasm and persistence, all laced with an endearing charm.

He's a sort of committed, cajoling, crusader come persuader who's needed all these qualities over the years to produce ArtWork, plus a fair whack of physical stamina which allows him...often accompanied by Maggie...to zip round Scotland personally delivering the feisty, free bi-monthly paper I've contributed to over the past fifteen years. It's been a fantastic, roller-coaster experience. Only last Saturday I had an e-mail from him asking if I'd like to contribute "words of reminiscence and/or crystal ball gazing. Deadline? Very relaxed - tomorrow."

Now, I hate reminiscing with a visceral loathing. It's the territory of the past where they do things differently, and I'm strictly all for the present and the hope of tomorrow. So, here goes! My ArtWork patch was to focus on Fife and Dundee with an occasional foray abroad to Perth and Glasgow.

I regularly previewed events such as the annual Pittenweem Arts Festival, not always to the approval of its organising committee who once wrote an irate letter of complaint to Bill about a particular criticism I'd made of their programme. It was considerably longer than the article itself and was accompanied by a request that a special edition be run to feature it. I appreciated Bill's tactful editing of the letter and his integrity in supporting me. It probably spared me a public lynching.

He took a big risk, too, in running a piece I wrote on the antics of the 'doughty denizens of Dysart' who had objected to a dramatic cliff-top installation of a wall by award winning sculptor Donald Urquhart. Their strident, protest persuaded Fife Council to demolish it on the grounds of....wait for it!...Health and Safety, and the claim that it blocked their sea view. It didn't and I suggested they were contenders for the 'philistines of the year' Oscar.

The article was picked up by BBC news, The Times, The Mirror, The Courier and banner headlined in Fife Free Press. I just hope it boosted ArtWork circulation more than somewhat.

ArtWork fulfils a unique role. It reports on events and issues which the national press and the glossies rarely touch; it has attracted contributors of distinction; it deserves a long life.

As I peer into my crystal ball (courtesy of Swarovksi, of course),however, the future looks distressingly fuzzy and enigmatic. The numerals 170 drift across it in 72 point Bodoni caps, as does the age of its indefatigable editor....but, for how much longer? Its demise would deprive Scotland of a truly independent voice. And that would be a national tragedy big time.

JOHN DI FOLCO