Obituary: Mr. Billy Crockard

Rev. Daniel Kane was speaking at a thanksgiving service in West Church for William (Billy) Crockard, who died in his sleep at Antrim Area Hospital last Tuesday, a month before his 77th birthday.

Billy, who was born in Saintfield in 1936, spent his entire working life as a constable in the RUC, most of his service taking place in Ballymena. He entlisted in the RUC in 1956 and subsequently served in Andersonstown, Dunmurry and Toomebridge before being transferred to Ballymena where he was a popular officer for 30 years until his retirement in 1989.

The esteem in which Billy was held was evidenced by the large number of mourners who attended the service on Thursday afternoon.

Mr Kane said that Billy was a fair-minded and highly respected policeman who was dedicated to his job and to his family.

“He took his police duties seriously and was a man of honour and of respect who was proud to wear the police uniforM.”

The minister alluded to the devotion Bily showed first to his wife Violet and family and later, following Violet’s death 20 years ago, to his partner, Jean McDonald, who died earlier this year. The Crockard family suffered a devastating blow in 1986 when son Brian lost his life in a swimming pool accident while on holiday in Magaluff. He was only 24 years old and had already established himself in football as a strong and commanding presence in the heart of the Ballymena United defence. Two years earlier he was among the goalscorers when the Sky Blues defeated Carrick Rangers by four goals to one in the Irish Cup final. Billy, too, played soccer for a number of junior teams and for the RUC, and Brian also inherited his father’s passion for cricket, as a high-order batsman with Ballymena Second XI. After putting away his ‘white’s, Billy concentrated on another summer sport - bowls - as a member of the Ballymena club and he was proud to step up to the top post of president in 2001.

Mr Kane said that Billy enjoyed music, singing and dancing and had received several diplomas for his expertise as a pianist.

There was laugher when the minister revealed that Billy had an “uncanny knack” of being selected for duty at Ballymena United home matches.

“Brian was a rising start in the team and, allegedly, the number of arrests for football trouble at the Showgrounds went down on those occasions principally because Billy’s attending was more on football than on policing!”

Former RUC colleagues of Billy were present at the service along with representatives of local sports Clubs and the legal profession. Billy is survived by his son David, daughter Barbara, son-in-law Stephen, daughter-in-law Jill and grandchildren Patricia, Richard, Aimee and William.

Interment took place at Ballymena cemetery. Billy Spence