Mr John Morgan

MR John Berchman Morgan, who died suddenly in Downe Hospital on July 26, was a popular and respected lifelong resident of Annacloy. He was 74.

John was the eighth child born to Denis and Ellen Morgan. He attended Holy Family Primary School, Teconnaught, and later the Christian Brothers school in Downpatrick.

After school he helped out on a milk round owned by Mr George Anderson and later obtained full-time employment working as a leather cutter at the Talmac factory in Downpatrick.

Unfortunately at the age of 18 he was involved in a serious road accident and sustained extensive injuries. Major surgery was performed by a team at Downe Hospital led by the consultant surgeon, Mr John Boyd, and after a lengthy period of convalescence he was allowed him.

Mr Boyd kept in regular contact with John and wrote to him 40 years later to inform him that a search of world surgery literature confirmed there were seven similar reported cases and that John was almost certainly the earliest survivor of someone with his injuries in the UK.

Mr Boyd also told John that he and his team completed the surgery in five-and-a-half hours without the aid of substitute staff. He said the same procedure would now require four teams of surgeons.

John took a great interest in all sports, especially horse racing, Formula One motor racing and football.

He was also interested in wildlife and history. He was always willing to offer help or advice, especially to his nephews and nieces.

In March this year John was diagnosed with a terminal illness which he bore with great strength, courage and dignity. He and his family were great supporters of Downe Hospital and believed strongly that it should be safeguarded for future generations.

John will be greatly missed by the entire Morgan family and his friends.