Obituary: Mr. Andrew (Andy) Kirkpatrick

Born in Rasharkin, and raised at Drumfin outside Ballymena, Andy, as he was known, passed away last week in hospital after a short illness at the age of 87.

Up until four years ago he was very much involved in his life-long love of working with all things related to motor vehicles and mechanics.

His passion for all things mechanical started at a young age, and upon leaving school at 14 he went to work as an apprentice at a number of car garages in the Ballymena area.

When he turned 18, he put his apprenticeship with Ulster Transport Association (UTA) on hold, to join the Royal Air Force as an Aircraft Mechanic.

He spent four years in the RAF, mainly in North Africa, where he spent time in Libya and what was then Palestine.

Upon leaving the RAF with the rank of Staff-Sergeant, Andy returned to Northern Ireland and finished his apprenticeship with the Ulster Transport Association, where he put his skills to use fixing buses.

He then took up a position with the Maintenance Unit at Aldergrove before joining Gallahers in Gracehill in 1957, where he would eventually be promoted to an engineering supervisor and would remain here until his retirement at 60.

Outside of work, he became involved with the Mid Antrim Motor Club’s karting section and Northern Ireland Karting Association, taking up the sport in his early 40s, and was presented with Driver of the Year award in 1973 for “being virtually unbeaten in his class”.

He put his retirement to use in furthering his hobbies, firstly opening a motorbike shop in Ahoghill and then taking up the restoration and rebuilding of MG cars.

While he had a deep love for his hobbies, his one true love was his family, especially his late wife Annie. He was a devoted family man, setting up home in Gracehill before moving to Ahoghill upon his retirement.

A funeral service was held in St Colmanell’s Church of Ireland, Ahoghill, last Wednesday, and he will be loving remembered by his family and family circle.