William Shakespeare, who made international headlines in December when he became the first man – and second person – in the U.K. to receive an approved vaccine for COVID-19, has died of an unrelated illness at the age of 81.

Shakespeare died on Thursday, Coventry Councilor and personal friend Jayne Innes told the BBC. Innes told the outlet that the “bet tribute to Bill is to have the jab.”

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Shakespeare, who worked for Rolls Royce and as a parish councilor, died of a stroke, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust told the BBC.