Mr George Strain

MR Hugh Thomas ‘George’ Strain, who has died, was born in Ballee on June 24, 1921, the youngest of five siblings to Elizabeth (née Ewart) and John Strain.

He attended Ballee Public Elementary School until aged 14, when he left to work on local farms, due to the family needing the support of another wage earner.

He was a keen cricketer and played for his local Tobermoney team. His father was a warden in the Downshire Mental Asylum and George followed in his footsteps, commencing his nurse training aged 20 years.

George soon met Nurse Betty Maxwell — the eldest of the well-known Maxwell family from Downpatrick.

They married on August 23, 1949, and had three children — Vivien, Alan and Alison. George took great pride in the achievements of his children, grandchildren and latterly his great-grandchildren.  He can be described as a great family man. 

William Maxwell Senior died suddenly in 1955 and with Betty coming from a large family, George took on the father figure for all the Maxwell siblings. George and Betty cared over many years for Betty’s mother, Mabel, and sister Amy, who had been born with Brittle Bone disease.

George worked steadily in the Downshire Hospital and soon rose through the ranks from Staff Nurse, to Charge Nurse, to Nursing Officer.

He was a fair, but firm and tolerant leader, and earned the respect of those professionals he worked with daily. Sadly, the many friends he made during his career have now mostly all passed on.

Following retirement on September 30, 1981, George and Betty enjoyed many holidays at home and abroad.

They often met up with and holidayed with Betty’s brother and sister-in-law, Norman and Myra, who lived in Scunthorpe.  They also loved walking and spent many afternoons at Murlough Beach, Tollymore and Castlewellan Forest Parks.

George enjoyed his garden, growing vegetables, fruit and grass cutting. George, Betty and his family attended Downpatrick Non-Subscribing Church and George was appointed an elder there in 1991. Due to infirmity he was unable to attend Sunday worship over the past few years but enjoyed faithful visits from Rev. Dr David Steers, other elders and members of the congregation.

Throughout his life George dedicated himself to helping others. When his daughter Alison’s husband, Stephen Fyfe, was killed in 1983, George and Betty moved in with her and baby son Neil, who was just 16 months old.

They supported Alison through this difficult period, until such times as she was able to resume her life in more practical ways.

Sadly Betty died in 2005. George moved from Roughal Park and resided for the past 11 months in Abbeyfield House, Downpatrick, and died peacefully on January 8, 2017, in his 96th year. He surpassed by two months the life of his mother, who also died in her 96th year.

George was a true gentleman. His reputation was widely known as was evidenced by the largely attended funeral service on January 11 in Ballee Non-Subscribing Church.  

The family would like to express their thanks and appreciation to all their family and friends who visited George over the past few years.

Thanks are also extended to the caring team who looked after George during his stay in Abbeyfield House, where he settled and was made welcome by the management, staff and residents.