Obituary: Andrew Weir Coid BEM

ONE of the most professional and popular police officers ever to serve in the Ballymena District and Antrim area has died in hospital after a long illness.

Hundreds of people were in attendance for the funeral last week of Detective Sergeant Andrew Weir Coid BEM (Drew), who served for a time in Kells and Portglenone during a long and distinguished policing career lasting 43 years.

Originally from Glengormley, he was educated in the village’s Public Elementary School and then at Ballyclare Technical School. After working for a short spell in the Royal Victoria Hospital laboratory, he joined the RUC in October 1952, serving in Feeny, Londonderry, Coleraine, Garvagh, Kells, Dunmurry and Portglenone before moving to Portadown.

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During his service in Portadown, from 1963 to 1976, he was involved in the investigation of many serious terrorist incidents and his home was the subject of a terrorist attack.

It was during his time in Portadown - where he was promoted to Detective Sergeant in Special Branch - that he really shone, with the outbreak of the Troubles and so many bombings and murders in the area.

Despite the mayhem, he was able to reach out to all sections of the community, often going above and beyond the call of duty; certainly, many would say he was at the forefront of policing with both sides of the community in an attempt to build bridges.

Two years after the bomb attack on his home, he transferred to the RUC’s ‘Portal Unit’ at Belfast International Airport, working in an anti-terrorist role and playing a pivotal role in the security of the entire province.

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At the airport, he developed relationships with many people, meeting many foreign police officers, dignatories and celebrities.

He moved at that stage with his family to live in the Ballymena area.

He remained at the airport until his retirement in October 1995, retiring as the longest serving police officer at that time, and such was his experience that over the years he provided expert security advice to police forces across the UK, as well as the FBI in America.

Indeed, he was awarded the British Empire Medal in 1975 for his services to policing, particularly for his role in trying to combat terrorism.

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Outside of work, Mr Coid was a prominent member of the Masonic Order, belonging to the chapters including Connor, Garvagh and Ballymena.

He was also involved in the Probus movement serving as Secretary and President in the Ballymena Branch.

He was a faithful member of St Patrick’s Parish Church in Ballymena worshipping in Ballyclug.

He was also a very talented musician and entertainer, playing just about every musical instrument, including the tin whistle, harmonica, flute, banjo, guitar, trumpet, accordion and many more, and appeared at fundraising charity concerts across the Province.

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His son Richard recalls a photograph of his father playing a mouth organ and tin whistle (at the same time), while having a cigarette simultaneously.

Mr Coid’s commitment to policing is equally matched with his commitment to his family and he is survived by his wife Anne (whom he met and married in 1962 during his time in Portglenone), his daughter Jillian, son Richard, daughter-in-law Denise, and grand-daughter Anna who was “the apple of her Papa’s eye”. He is also survived by his sister Sally Fowlstone (Vancouver).

He was buried last Sunday in Ballyclug parish cemetery (Ballymarlow) after a service in St Patrick’s Parish Church, Ballymena, where he and his family worshipped.

The church was filled to overflowing for the funeral service, conducted by Canon Stuart Lloyd and Curate Brian Lacey.

Tributes were paid at the service by James McClure QPM, Mr James Lynch and Mr Vernon Smith. Lady Sylvia Hermon, wife of former Chief Constable Sir John Hermon, was among those in attendance.

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