Williams, who was a farmer from North Wales, was a colourful political figure who was respected for his straight talking and campaigning on rural issues; although privately he admitted he never saw himself as a politician.

[1] Williams rise to prominence began in 1997–98 when he joined protesters blockading the Port of Holyhead on Anglesey over the importation of Irish beef.

[6] Williams had also been the Conservative spokesman for Environment, Planning and Countryside and Local Government in the Second Assembly (2003–07), during which time he was Chair of the North Wales Regional Committee.

Welsh Conservative leader Nick Bourne said he was "immensely popular" across all parties and UK Prime Minister David Cameron called him a "straight talker and a great loss to the assembly and to Wales".

In April 2010, Williams was initially told by the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board that he had ulcerative colitis, five months before the colon cancer was correctly identified.