Robert Graham Ballymena Obituary -
Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2017 2:40 pm
We had the sad news last Monday evening at the weekly show that the former Chairman of the Ballymena & Dist HPS Robert Graham had passed away at his home in Greenmount Terrace surrounded by his loving family. Robert had been ill for a period of time and had not raced for several years. He was able to congratulate son Martin after his recent success from France with the only bird in the NIPA Sect B from St Malo with just 16 birds home. When we lived in Harryville at Brooke Park which in those days was a hot bed of the sport, enough lofts to have formed a club in their own right, R Graham & Son, that would be Robert’s late father, were founder members in Harryville. Martin Graham is a third generation racing loft, previously in Harryville he now has top success at his beloved distance and Irish National events through Ballymena & District HPS. I would think much more is still to come. What a fitting tribute on the day of Martins twin sisters anniversary (sadly passed away due to cancer) that he would win 1st Sect B & 7th Open NIPA St Malo Old Bird National and name his latest top performing, 2 year old Blue Cheq hen Champion "Brenda-Ann ", in memory of his dear sister. Burial for Robert was at Calvary Cemetery in Carnlough, donations in lieu of flowers if desired to either - Cancer Focus NI, Marie Curie or NI Hospice c/o Michael McSparron, Funeral Director, 40 Harbour Road, Carnlough BT44 0EU. Sincere sympathy to the entire Graham Family circle at this very sad time.
I wrote this little report in 2008, the first year of the Mid Antrim Combine Champions League with a little bit of info supplied by Robert Graham who that season was Chairman in the Ballymena & District HPS.
Reynolds Bros (Homer) had been members of Harryville previous joining in 1971 for young birds getting prizes in both Haverford and Skibbereen YB Derbies racing just 12 birds and the year after that timing in the OB Derby Dinard and winning the OB Ave in our first full season. Around this time my brother Michael was Secretary, it was just for a short time before he decided to move to USA and make a life there with a new wife. I remained a member myself for around 30 years although for most of that time not flying the birds, 12 young birds would hardly be good enough now. I have seen the Minute Book before and have managed to get a copy of the minutes recorded for the first two meetings of the club. It did not say where they were held or the members attending. The first meeting according to this report was on Wednesday 15th February 1957 with the following members elected to office. Secretary Samuel McCartney, Treasurer David Campbell, Ass Treasurer R Lindsay, Chairman Ken Gillen, Vice-Chairman Samuel Mackrell.
It was proposed by Joe Spence and seconded by W McPeake that no duplication be accepted all birds competing must be race marked through Harryville. (Passed). It was proposed by David Campbell and seconded by Tom Eaton that invitations be sent to all Harryville fanciers to join the club. (Passed). At the second meeting of Harryville HPS held on Wednesday 1st March the minutes of the first meeting were read and passed. It was proposed by S Mackrell and seconded by Tom Eaton that the club purchase a master timer. (Passed). Proposed by J Lennox seconded by Ken Gillen that the club subscriptions be £2 and 10 shillings (Passed). Proposed by Ken Gillen and seconded by Matt McAdorey that that the club be kept exclusively for Harryville fanciers (Passed). Proposed by James Lennox seconded by Samuel Mackrell that birdage be 6d inland and one shilling across channel. This concluded the business for the evening and the minutes were signed by D Campbell and S McCartney.
A lot of water under the bridge from those days, Harryville was a hot-bed and I well remember Brooke Park full of lofts, at least one quarter of the 60 bungalows. One such loft was that of J Graham & Son and I asked Robert who is now the Chairman in Ballymena & Dist what he remembered about the early days in Harryville. His thought was the club was formed due to the formidable competition at that time in the Ballymena & Dist the big club at the top of the town. They had the likes of Tommy Harper, Billy Erwin, Smyth Bros, Bobby Law, Doey Bros, Bob Kielty, Alex O’Rourke, Jack Rodgers, George Barr to mention just a few of the all time greats.
Some of the names involved with Harryville in those early days not sure if they were all founder members included Sam McCartney, Davy Campbell, Tom Eaton, John Surgenor, J Graham & Son, Roy Millar & Son, B Swann & Son, J McFall, Letters & Son, Robert Lindsay, Harry Knox, John Collins & Son, Quinten McFall, McMaster Bros, McPeake Bros, T Picken & Son, and there may be others. The early meetings were held in rooms behind the Railway Tavern Bar, later moving to the Raglan Bar and then to the Goods Yard at Railway Street. Robert who was just 16 at the time said the meetings chaired by Chip Surgenor left a great impression from that time. There was a need for a club at the lower end of the town on the south side of Harryville Bridge which at that time was the main road through town. It was difficult to compete against some of the household names of the sport and Harryville itself had enough lofts on site to form a club.
Robert Graham was involved in the early days as Treasurer, chip Surgenor was President, Chairman Davy Campbell who dominated racing over the early years and Secretary Sammy McCartney who was involved with an Insurance Company. Today Jackie Millar and James Letters remain connected to the club, Brian Swann is in Kells & Dist and Robert Graham as I said earlier is involved at Ballymena & Dist, his son Martin is a third generation and has already enjoyed good success with 1st Open OB Inland Nat and 2nd Open OB Derby France. The club have become one of the best in its 50 years winning 1st Open at Derby & Nat level numerous times and over recent seasons J Eagleson & Sons, Colin McBride and Roy Clements have all been crowned NIPA Sect Fancier of the Year. I can remember in my time the club were open for duplication and had an application from the late Leslie Mairs of Kells a super loft. He flew short was brilliant and the current Sect Fancier of the Year. It made no difference to the Harryville membership, he joined and won numerous top prizes, the attitude of the club was that if you were to reach the top you had to beat them all, no matter who they were. That might have had something to do with the fantastic success the club has enjoyed in its history.
I wrote this little report in 2008, the first year of the Mid Antrim Combine Champions League with a little bit of info supplied by Robert Graham who that season was Chairman in the Ballymena & District HPS.
Reynolds Bros (Homer) had been members of Harryville previous joining in 1971 for young birds getting prizes in both Haverford and Skibbereen YB Derbies racing just 12 birds and the year after that timing in the OB Derby Dinard and winning the OB Ave in our first full season. Around this time my brother Michael was Secretary, it was just for a short time before he decided to move to USA and make a life there with a new wife. I remained a member myself for around 30 years although for most of that time not flying the birds, 12 young birds would hardly be good enough now. I have seen the Minute Book before and have managed to get a copy of the minutes recorded for the first two meetings of the club. It did not say where they were held or the members attending. The first meeting according to this report was on Wednesday 15th February 1957 with the following members elected to office. Secretary Samuel McCartney, Treasurer David Campbell, Ass Treasurer R Lindsay, Chairman Ken Gillen, Vice-Chairman Samuel Mackrell.
It was proposed by Joe Spence and seconded by W McPeake that no duplication be accepted all birds competing must be race marked through Harryville. (Passed). It was proposed by David Campbell and seconded by Tom Eaton that invitations be sent to all Harryville fanciers to join the club. (Passed). At the second meeting of Harryville HPS held on Wednesday 1st March the minutes of the first meeting were read and passed. It was proposed by S Mackrell and seconded by Tom Eaton that the club purchase a master timer. (Passed). Proposed by J Lennox seconded by Ken Gillen that the club subscriptions be £2 and 10 shillings (Passed). Proposed by Ken Gillen and seconded by Matt McAdorey that that the club be kept exclusively for Harryville fanciers (Passed). Proposed by James Lennox seconded by Samuel Mackrell that birdage be 6d inland and one shilling across channel. This concluded the business for the evening and the minutes were signed by D Campbell and S McCartney.
A lot of water under the bridge from those days, Harryville was a hot-bed and I well remember Brooke Park full of lofts, at least one quarter of the 60 bungalows. One such loft was that of J Graham & Son and I asked Robert who is now the Chairman in Ballymena & Dist what he remembered about the early days in Harryville. His thought was the club was formed due to the formidable competition at that time in the Ballymena & Dist the big club at the top of the town. They had the likes of Tommy Harper, Billy Erwin, Smyth Bros, Bobby Law, Doey Bros, Bob Kielty, Alex O’Rourke, Jack Rodgers, George Barr to mention just a few of the all time greats.
Some of the names involved with Harryville in those early days not sure if they were all founder members included Sam McCartney, Davy Campbell, Tom Eaton, John Surgenor, J Graham & Son, Roy Millar & Son, B Swann & Son, J McFall, Letters & Son, Robert Lindsay, Harry Knox, John Collins & Son, Quinten McFall, McMaster Bros, McPeake Bros, T Picken & Son, and there may be others. The early meetings were held in rooms behind the Railway Tavern Bar, later moving to the Raglan Bar and then to the Goods Yard at Railway Street. Robert who was just 16 at the time said the meetings chaired by Chip Surgenor left a great impression from that time. There was a need for a club at the lower end of the town on the south side of Harryville Bridge which at that time was the main road through town. It was difficult to compete against some of the household names of the sport and Harryville itself had enough lofts on site to form a club.
Robert Graham was involved in the early days as Treasurer, chip Surgenor was President, Chairman Davy Campbell who dominated racing over the early years and Secretary Sammy McCartney who was involved with an Insurance Company. Today Jackie Millar and James Letters remain connected to the club, Brian Swann is in Kells & Dist and Robert Graham as I said earlier is involved at Ballymena & Dist, his son Martin is a third generation and has already enjoyed good success with 1st Open OB Inland Nat and 2nd Open OB Derby France. The club have become one of the best in its 50 years winning 1st Open at Derby & Nat level numerous times and over recent seasons J Eagleson & Sons, Colin McBride and Roy Clements have all been crowned NIPA Sect Fancier of the Year. I can remember in my time the club were open for duplication and had an application from the late Leslie Mairs of Kells a super loft. He flew short was brilliant and the current Sect Fancier of the Year. It made no difference to the Harryville membership, he joined and won numerous top prizes, the attitude of the club was that if you were to reach the top you had to beat them all, no matter who they were. That might have had something to do with the fantastic success the club has enjoyed in its history.