A friend’s tribute to Trevor Smyth

A close friend of Trevor Smyth, the former President of Ballymoney Chamber of Commerce, has penned a personal tribute.

Mr. Richard Dickson, an associate as well as a good friend of Mr. Smyth when the two were in business in Ballymoney, wrote:

“My thoughts on Trevor.....Trevor passed away suddenly on Sunday 21st July in Canada.

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Trevor was a well known businessman in the north coast and Ballymoney area for many years. He was born in Portstewart.

Everything he turned his hand to, he seemed to make a great success of.

This was no accident as he had a tremendous work ethic. He started off his working life in the Belfast Telegraph, where he worked for a few years before returning to the Coleraine area where he started a Driving School along with his wife Marta.

After a few years of hard work, Trevor opened his first music shop in Linenhall Street, Ballymoney.

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His business flourished, and soon he and Marta had outlets in Coleraine, Portrush and Limavady also. His knowledge of the music industry was second to none.

In fact not many people know that he once played in a band in his teenage years. Trevor had many other interests, including his love of Coleraine F.C. – and he followed them home and away most of his life.

He was also involved in promoting bands and festivals for many years.

He was deeply involved in the business community in Ballymoney especially, and as a former Chamber of Commerce President, was usually the one who came up with the bright ideas for promotions and events in Ballymoney!

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Who will ever forget his contribution to such events as the Summer Fair, The Duck Race and the Christmas Festivities in the town.

Yes, he was the person largely responsible for bringing camels to calmly walk down Main Street after the turning on of the Christmas lights. His ideas were revolutionary and at first may have seemed outlandish and over adventurous to the rest of the Chamber members.

But when they thought about it and adopted his ideas they were always successful and a lot of fun to take part in.

Trevor relocated to Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario a few years ago, where he established a themed Irish Bar/Restaurant. It quickly became a roaring success like his other business interests before.

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He made frequent trips home, and only recently was in the area with his restaurant manager. He enjoyed showing him the sights of the North Coast of which he was always very proud.

Trevor will be sadly missed both in his new Canadian home and in the Ballymoney/North Coast area.

He was a character who was hard to forget once you met him. He was blessed with a tremendous business acumen, but he had a softer side also.

He was always good company and the life and soul of the party and life will be a little bit duller without him.”