Sir Dennis Faulkner

A SERVICE of thanksgiving for the life of Sir Dennis Faulkner, who died on December 31 aged 90, has been held in Down Cathedral.

Sir Dennis, who lived at Ringhaddy on the shores of Strangford Lough, was a leading Northern Ireland businessman and the younger brother of Brian Faulkner, the last Prime Minister of Northern Ireland.

He was a former officer in the Royal Navy and was later a lieutenant commander in the Royal Naval Reserve.

He was commissioned into the Ulster Defence Regiment and commanded the Boat Section of the 3rd (Co Down) battalion before being appointed regimental colonel in 1982. He was Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Co Down in 1988.

He was awarded the CBE in 1980 and was later knighted for his services.

Sir Dennis was a noted yachtsmen, who took part in several Fastnet races and was commodore of the Irish Cruising Club in 1969. He was also a committed conservationist and a founding member of the Strangford Lough Management Committee.

Down Cathedral was filled to capacity for Sunday’s service of thanksgiving, which was led by the Dean of Down, the Very Rev Henry Hull.

Among those in attendance was the outgoing First Minister, Arlene Foster. Other politicians in attendance included Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt and Strangford MP Jim Shannon.

The address was given by Lord Eames, the former Church of Ireland primate, who paid tribute to Sir Dennis’s record of public service and spoke of his personal friendship with Sir Dennis, which included shared sailing experiences on Strangford Lough.

A further tribute was given by General Sir Roger Wheeler, former Chief of the General Staff of 

the British Army and representing the Duke of York, who spoke of 

the charity work done by Sir Dennis on behalf of the UDR Benevolent Fund.

Sir Dennis’s granddaughter, Alice Watson, read from Tennyson’s poem, Crossing the Bar,’ and his other grandchildren, Anna and Alexander Hamilton, also made moving contributions.

Other clergy taking part in the service included the Rev Stanley Gamble, rector of Killinchy and Kilmood Parishes, and the Rev Brian Small, minister of Raffrey Presbyterian Church.