Orangemen’s tribute to ‘Brother’

THERE was a large and representative attendance of family, friends and members of the Loyal Orders at St Columb’s Cathedral for the funeral of the late Wor Bro Albert Kilpatrick. He had been ill for a short period of time.
By The Newsroom
Published 31st Mar 2011, 12:11 BST

The funeral earlier this month was to St Columb’s Cathedral, and was officiated over by the Dean, Rev Dr William Morton, who in his eulogy described Bro Albert as “a real gentleman who had a great way with people, who was most faithful and loyal in every aspect of his life, as a husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, as a friend of countless people, and as a devoted member of St Columb’s Cathedral, someone whom we will all miss very much indeed.”

Bro Albert was born in Armagh and was an attendee of St mark’s Parish Church, and in his early teens he and his family moved to Portadown and on his 16th birthday he enlisted in the Royal Navy - a call to service which suited him as he liked to be precise, neat, clean and tidy and well organised.

HMS Sea Eagle

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He began his training in the Isle of Mann, and was paid a shilling a week, and went on to serve on board HMS Spartan. However, it was during his time at HMS Sea Eagle at Ebrington that he met his wife to be, Isobel, in 1946, at a dance in the Memorial hall, and the following year the couple married in the Cathedral. Rev Charles Willoughby officiated.

After de-listing Bro Albert secured a job with the GPO, now BT, and remained with the organisation until his retirement

In his tribute the City Grand Master, Bro Victor Wray, said: “It was an honour to know Bro Albert Kilpatrick, who was a member of my own home Lodge, Britannia LOL 1912, for 50 years. Bro Albert joined Britannia LOL 1912 in January 1961. He served the Lodge diligently and became WM in 1966 and again in 1967.

“Bro Albert had a great personality, he was extremely affable and made many friends in the Lodge, and to mark his ‘Golden Anniversary’ in January earlier this year the members of the Lodge decided it would be appropriate that we posthumously award his 50 Year Jewel and Certificate to his widow, Isobel and the couple’s family.

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“We unanimously agreed within the Lodge that we wanted to mark all the work that Bro Albert did over the 50 years of his membership and we also wanted to assure his widow and family that Bro Albert would be remembered for years to come within the ranks of LOL 1912,” said the City Grand Master.

Pride

“From a personal perspective I will always remember how Albert started and marshalled the parades leaving The Fountain, a task he did with skill and humour for many years. He took great pride in completing his duties in this respect, and we have fond memories of him and offer his wife, Isobel and family our sincere sympathy and condolences. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him in the Loyal Orders.”

In addition to his home Lodge, Bro Albert Kilpatrick was a member and Past President of the No Surrender Parent Club, and was a loyal member of the RBP No.237.