Bushmills comes to a standstill for funeral of Irish Guards major Robert James Wilmont
Bushmills came to a standstill on Wednesday, September 3, for the military funeral of Major Robert James Wilmont MBE.
A Service of Thanksgiving was held at Dunluce Presbyterian Church following the death of the former Irish Guards major who died on Tuesday, August 26, at Altnagelvin Hospital. Born and raised in Bushmills, Robert spent over four decades in the Irish Guards.
He was a member of Portballintrae Orange Lodge, LOL 1142, and had also been a member of the Giant’s Causeway Protestant Boys Flute Band.
Crowds braved the rain to line the street in Bushmills as soldiers carried his Union Flag-draped coffin to the graveside.
Major Wilmont’s funeral notice said that he passed away “peacefully” and describes him as “dear husband of Diane, much-loved father of Sophie and her husband Sam, loving grandad of Benjamin, devoted son of Sandy and the late Lena, cherished partner of Melissa and a dear brother, brother-in-law and uncle”.
He had appeared in a 2023 BBC2 documentary about the coronation of King Charles III, called Coronation Tailors: Fit for a King.
Speaking in that programme, Major Wilmont said: “The first ceremonial event I did within a month of being in London was Prince Charles’ wedding to Princess Diana; I was on The Mall for that as a Guardsman.
"I’ve been at weddings, state events, like the state opening of parliament and state visits. On a routine basis the big event in London every year is the trooping of the colour.”
He had been also involved in the jubliee parades and Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, where he stood vigil at her coffin in Westminster Abbey.