John Eccles was born in 1892 on the 'Ards peninsula in County Down, Northern Ireland.
He was a gardener and domestic servant for a baron in Ballywalter, North Down, a garden foreman for the Guinness family in Dublin, the head gardener on a property in Belfast owned by Sir James Craig (Northern Ireland's first Prime Minister), a gallant soldier who served his country in two world wars with the Royal Irish Rifles and the Home Guard, a teacher of the gospel, a caring husband and father of five, a grandfather and a great-grandfather, and a highly respected gentleman, wherever he went.
In retirement he served for many years as sexton of St. Columba's, Church of Ireland in Portadown, N. Ireland, before passing away in July, 1980.
His obituary read:
"Mr Eccles knew instinctively what had to be done and he did it without fuss or ceremony. He had a friendly word for everyone he met and he was never without that smile which characterised his inner happiness and contented spirit.
He was one of whom it could be truly said that he lived his faith, and to be in his company, even for a short time, was to be enriched and inspired in a wonderful way. We thank God for his life of goodness, gentleness and humility."
Nanny and Granda Eccles with their latest grandson, Paul, in 1958
My earliest recollection of 'Granda' Eccles is watching him carry buckets of water from a pump to a cistern at the rear of my mum (his youngest daughter, Anne) and dad's home in the village of Scotch Street, County Armagh. I was almost four years old. It was 1962.
He cycled every week from his home in Oakwood Place, Portadown in order to help my busy parents who had three rather rambunctious boys, all under the age of four.
A couple of years later, I can remember running and skipping along behind him, trying to keep up with his long strides as he attended to his duties as caretaker of Edgarstown Church Hall on Montague Street and St Colomba's church in Redmanville, Portadown. It was always a relief when he stopped between the two venues for a friendly chat with the parishioners we met along the way.
He was a wonderful man and I loved so much spending time with him.
This is a record - including many personal photographs and papers - of his numerous activities and experiences during a long, busy and fruitful life, and is dedicated to his memory.
I hope you enjoy this brief account of his life as much as I have enjoyed trying to piece it together.
***
Corporal John Eccles, 15th, Royal Irish Rifles, 1915
Create Your Own Website With Webador