Spent much of his working life in the fishing industry

MR ANDREW GRAHAM

IT is with great sadness and sincere regret that we record the sudden death of Mr Andrew Graham (Andy) of 21 Harbour Drive, Kilkeel.

He passed way on Thursday, 25 February, after a short illness in Daisy Hill Hospital, and was in the 80th year of his life.

Andy was born on 7 September 1930, the eldest son of John and Elizabeth Graham (deceased), of Leitrim Upper, Kilkeel.

He was educated at Ballinran Primary School, then with his school days over, he worked in the local area driving lorries etc.

Subsequently, he went to England and worked on some road building schemes. On his return, he met and fell in love with May Glenny and they were married in Mourne Presbyterian Church on 10 July 1962.

For the first two years they lived in Millbay and then moved to 21 Harbour Drive, Kilkeel.

Andy went on to spend the rest of his working life in the fishing industry. He was the loving father of Gloria, Colin, Yvonne, Linda and Jonathan, a dear grandfather of Claire, Graham, William, Ethan, Kathryn, Stacey and Joshua.

He was the father-in-law to Edward, John and Karen, and the much-loved brother of Sam, Cecil, Ellen, Lily, George, Lucy, Ivan, Dorothy, Mary and Stanley, and the late Bob, Willie and Bella.

His funeral service was held in Kilkeel Presbyterian Church on Sunday, 28 February, and was one of the largest seen in the Kilkeel area in a long time.

The Service of Thanksgiving for his life was conducted by the minister, the Rev Stephen Johnston.

Andy, who was a friend to all and enemy of none, will be sadly missed by his family and wide circle of friends.

There were floral tributes from the immediate family and brothers and sisters, with donations in lieu of flowers to the Ulster Cancer Foundation.

Songwriter, poet and charity worker

MR PETER KING

MR Peter Alphonsus King, of Park Lane, Newcastle, who passed away in the Coronary Care Unit at the Downe Hospital on 13 February, was a well known songwriter, poet and charity worker. He was 64.

He is survived by his wife Mary, and brother Oliver. He was predeceased by brothers Donard and Thomas.

Peter, a retired civil servant, was always involved in music. He wrote many songs and poems. One of his songs, Snowflake, was recorded by Daniel O’Donnell in 1987, and another song, Love Is Like A River, was recorded by Aine in Nashville.

He also had poetry published by the BBC entitled Rathlin Island.

Peter was also a volunteer on hospital radio and often entertained patients in hospital and nursing homes.

He was a voluntary worker for Cystic Fibrosis and other charity organisations and was a member of the Road Safety Committee.

He also had a keen interest in collecting antiques.

The funeral service on 15 February at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Newcastle, was followed by interment at St Patrick’s Church, Bryansford, Fr D Mulligan officiated.

Leading evangelist was native of Newcastle

MR DERICK BINGHAM

MUCH sorrow and regret are being felt locally following the death of leading Northern Ireland evangelist Mr Derick Bingham, who was a native of Newcastle.

He passed away on Saturday, just over a year after he had been diagnosed with acute Myeloid Leukaemia.

Mr Bingham, who was 64, had fought his illness with great courage and conviction and, although his condition improved with medical care, he said that he was living, not in remission, but with “permission from God.”

From a hospital bedside, he wrote the book ‘North of Shadowland’, which conveyed his personal thoughts on the traumatic experience of moving from the light into the dark, but holding firm to the faith and the truth of the Christian message.

As an author, Mr Bingham wrote 25 books over a 27-year period, several on the works of Belfast-born CS Lewis — a man he greatly admired.

His publisher, Dr Samuel Lowry, from Ambassador Publications, paid this tribute:

“Derick was a very knowledgeable and scholarly man on Christian teaching and, as a theologian and evangelist, his reputation went far beyond Northern Ireland.

“He showed exceptional courage in his last weeks and months, but his faith never waivered and his books stand testimony to the outstanding witness that he made over a period of 50 years.”

Mr Bingham came from a Brethren background and, in his earlier career, he was a teacher. He taught Religious Education and English at Lurgan College before becoming a full-time evangelist and author.

During the late 1970s, he contributed a children’s column, entitled ‘From My Window,’ to the Mourne Observer.

Mr Bingham pastored at the Crescent Church, University Road, Belfast and, for upwards of 20 years during the Troubles, he ran a Tuesday night service at the church, attended mostly by young students from neighbouring Queen’s University and colleges, with attendances averaging 1,000 every evening.

Mr Bingham was a frequent broadcaster for the BBC and international religious networks, and he contributed regularly to the BBC Thought for the Day slot.

As an evangelist and conservative theological scholar, he travelled extensively, particularly for lectures and conferences in Europe and the US.

He is survived by his wife Margaret and daughters Claire, Kerry and Catherine.

A private funeral will be held and a memorial service is being organised on Sunday, 28 March, at Crescent Church, Belfast.