Mr Ken Gallagher

THE death of Mr Ken Gallagher at the age of 65 has evoked much sadness.

Ken grew up in Co Tyrone and moved to Belfast in 1973 when he started his nursing training at Purdysburn Hospital where he met his wife, Liz.

They completed their mental health nurse training and then moved to the City Hospital to complete their general training together.

They married in 1975 and moved to Crossgar where they raised their family, two daughters, Emma and Laura, and a son, Jason. Liz sadly died in 2010 after a battle with breast cancer and Ken moved to Lisburn a few years later. 

Ken had a long career in nursing and worked throughout the Belfast Trust across many specialities, including care of the elderly, neurology, rehabilitation and cancer services.

He retired in 2016, ending a 43-year career as a senior nurse manager of orthopaedics in Musgrave Park Hospital, where he was loved and respected by all.  

Ken was an avid Manchester United fan, his last game being at Watford in February this year and he was delighted to see his team win. He also loved watching snooker and tennis.

The house he and his wife built was their dream home and he spent many long days in the garden and decorating. A man who was good at most things, he regularly hung wallpaper, tiled bathrooms, cooked a Sunday dinner and cut his daughter’s hair when the need arose.  

He will be sorely missed by all who knew him and remembered as a kind, generous and funny man.

He is survived by daughters Emma and Laura, son Jason, sons-in-law Mark and Johnny, grandchildren Jamie, Sarah and Olivia, sister Marian, brother Jack and a large extended family, including 23 nieces and nephews. 

His funeral took place on Friday, October 9, and he is buried with his dear wife in Crossgar.