The passing of a true gentleman

ONE of Ballymoney's most popular and respected residents has died suddenly.

Francis Beattie, better known by everyone as Frank or Frankie, passed away last week at the Causeway Hospital after taking ill at work. He would have been 87 next month.

Although he had suffered two minor heart attacks, the first in 2003 and the second four years later, Frank seemed to regain his insatiable love of life and continued working up to the morning he died.

Born in Balnamore on September 26, 1923, and educated at Balnamore Primary School until the age of 14, Frank began his working life as a breadserver for Howard Dunlop in Charlotte Street who had the franchise for Baines Bread.

Eglinton Bakery then took over Baines and Frank finally gained employment with Ormo until he was made to retire at 60. After a lengthy retirement of THREE days he started working for Dunnes and remained there until his death last Thursday.

In total, he worked for a mere 72 years!

Frank's hobbies were rooted in sport. He was very proud of the fact that he was a Schoolboy International Footballer at the age of 13 (capped in the 1936/37 season). He played a season for Linfield and then Glentoran but always returned home and signed for Ballymoney Utd.

He enjoyed Badminton in the local Churches league for Ballymoney Parish Church and played both Outdoor and Indoor Bowls for Ballymoney. His house was coming down with winners medals and plaques and said he always played for the fun of it - much to his late wife, Gretta's, annoyance at times especially when she was his 'doubles' partner.

He was also a keen gardener and took much pride in growing flowers and vegetables.

Frank loved music, especially singing, and was a member of Ballymoney and District Male Voice Choir. He also helped out with the Irish Dancing Festival in the Town Hall each year.

He was a keen dancer at staff outings and according to his son, Christopher, his dad would say that he would slip away after the meal but next day he would have to confess that he didn't get home until 1 o'clock.

He was a member of the Church choir in St. Patrick's, Ballymoney, for close on 50 years and served as a member of the Select Vestry for many years and as Sunday School Attendance Officer.

One of his proudest moments was when he received his Gold Award as a Blood Donor at a Garden party at Hillsborough Castle.

He enjoyed caravaning - throughout Ireland and often to Scotland (strangely coinciding with the Open Golf tournament) He and his wife were frequent attendees at the Chelsea Flower Show in later years.

Frank tried to be a true Christian in the broadest sense of the word and loved his church attending regularly three times on a Sunday and often throughout the week.

He was buried in St. Patrick's Parish Churchyard in the family grave beside his loving wife (Gretta) on Sunday. The service conducted by Rev. Rodger Cooke of St. Patrick's, Coleraine.

Frank is survived by only son Christopher, daughter-in-law Lesley and grandsons Jack and Sam.

His son paid the following tribute: "In all the time I have known him he never had a bad word to say about anyone, he always tried to help people even if he didn't know them.

"One such occassion nearly cost him dearly - this was reported on this year but I cannot remember which local paper carried the story.

"During the heavy snow of 1963 he was doing his bread rounds near Ballycastle when he stopped to help someone in trouble. They managed to get the man's car started but of course when he went back to the van he couldn't get it started.

"Realising that the snow was getting worse he set off for help, eventually coming across a house. He was kindly taken in and he said that when he took his trousers off they stood up on their own. I didn't see him for five days and in those days we had no phone but he had managed to get word to the local police station who passed on the information that he was safe and well.

"He was a devoted husband to his wife, a loving father to me and grandfather to the boys who idolised him. He always had a smile on his face even when he wasn't feeling 100%. He just loved working and enjoyed the 'craic' with the staff and customers of Dunnes.

"He was generous to a fault, kind, thoughtful and always worrying about others, never himself.

"A true gentleman."

The words of his son will resonate with countless people who will always remember Frank as a genuine, caring and lovely wee man who will be sadly missed by a wide circle of friends.