Taxi boss passes away at home

Gary Orr, from Jubilee Avenue in the city, was found dead in his home on Saturday January 7 by his wife Brenda and eldest son. Death was caused by liver failure.

Mr Orr, elder brother of Wallace and father of seven, will be remembered for starting up the taxi firm GO cabs which now is based in McKeown Street.

As a teenager he studied carpentry and woodwork at the old Canal Street training school and this is where he met Brenda who was training to be a hairdresser. However, Mr Orr decided to pursue a career in lorry driving as well as working part time for the Ulster Defence Regiment for 11 years.

When he came out of the UDR he started driving for taxi firm ‘Grab a Cab’ - then based on Chapel Hill and eight years ago set up his own business based out in Glenavy Road before moving into the city five years ago.

Mr Orr enjoyed the social aspect to his job and remained a driver when running the firm which he sold last year.

As well as taxi-ing Mr Orr enjoyed playing the drum for the Blaris Accordion Band which he joined at the age of four but in recent years had been too busy to keep at it.

He was a well known member of the Orange Order, Royal Black Preceptory and the Masons and will be sadly missed by his family, friends, work colleagues and customers.