A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Sir Dennis Faulkner, who died on New Year’s Eve, aged 90, was held recently in Down Cathedral and led by the Dean of Down, the Very Rev. Henry Hull.

The Cathedral was filled to capacity for the service which was attended by numerous friends and family members from far and wide. 

Amongst these were many friends from Fermanagh, and also his eldest daughter Katie, wife of Lord Anthony Hamilton from Killyreagh House, Tamlaght.

HRH The Duke of York, Colonel in Chief The Royal Irish Regiment, was represented by General Sir Roger Wheeler, and among others present were Viscount and Viscountess Brookeborough, former First Minister Arlene Foster, General Sir Peter Graham, General Sir Charles Huxtable, General Sir John and Lady Waters, the Duke and Duchess of Abercorn, Commander and Lady Moyra Campbell, the Earl of Erne, Mr. James Hamilton-Stubber, Mrs. John Hamilton Stubber, other Lord Lieutenants: Mr. Dennis Desmond, Mr. Robert Scott, Mr. David Lindsay, Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt, MPs: Tom Elliott, Danny Kinahan and Jim Shannon, also Mr. Billy Dickson, an old and valued family friend from the county.

The address was given by the Lord Eames of Armagh, who paid tribute to Sir Dennis’s record of public service and spoke of their personal friendship through difficult times in the Province, as well as their happy sailing experiences on Strangford Lough.

A further tribute was given by General Sir Roger Wheeler, former Chief of the General Staff, who spoke with great affection and admiration of some of the many experiences which he and Sir Dennis had shared, and also of his work on behalf of the UDR Benevolent Fund.

Sir Dennis’s grand-daughter, Alice Watson, read Tennyson’s poem, ‘Crossing the Bar,’ and his other grandchildren, Anna and Alexander Hamilton, also gave a very moving and affectionate address.

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.

‘Highland Cathedral’ provided a very poignant end to the service - the sound of the pipes gradually fading as the piper left the Cathedral and walked down the hill.

Sir Dennis Faulkner, whose peaceful death occurred at his home on the shores of Strangford Lough, was the younger brother of Brian Faulkner, the last Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. Dennis also served his country in a number of far-reaching ways, while always cherishing his privacy.

His enthusiasm and enjoyment of life was demonstrated by the great variety of sports and activities in which he, his family and many friends were involved. 

As well as his life-long love of sailing, he enjoyed fishing and also flying, having obtained his pilot’s licence as a young man.

In his younger days he and his brother Brian hunted all over Ireland, and the family kept a succession of much loved horses, both point-to-pointers and hunters. He travelled widely, often by sea, including in recent years, joining voyages to both the Arctic and the Antarctic.

He completed his education at St Columba’s College Dublin where he particularly enjoyed rugby. On leaving school he served in the Royal Navy and then the RNVR, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
In 1971 he transferred to join the newly formed Ulster Defence Regiment as a captain with particular responsibility for the fast boat section in Carlingford Lough.

Throughout this time Sir Dennis was a very active member of the business community of Ulster: first taking over and successfully developing the family shirt company, which at its peak employed over 1,000 people.

Sir Dennis served in the Ulster Defence Regiment for many years. In 1979 he was the first part time officer in the UDR to be promoted to Lt. Colonel and in 1982 he was promoted to full colonel as Regimental Colonel UDR. He retired in 1986 and  was appointed Honorary Representative Colonel Commandant UDR. He was very much involved in the foundation of the UDR Benevolent Fund of which he became chairman.

Above all Dennis was a devoted family man with a lively sense of humour and fun, and he will be remembered by many friends for his great kindness and generosity.

He married Janet Cunningham in 1952. Her death in 1994 aged only 63, was a tremendous blow to him.

A member of the Royal Yacht Squadron and a founding member of the RORC, Sir Dennis was also a prominent member of the Royal Cruising Club, the Cruising Club of America, as well as Past Commodore of the Irish Cruising Club.

His farm with some islands on the shores of Strangford Lough, was a continuing source of pleasure and he took a keen interest in the conservation and protection of the Lough right up until his death. 
Even at the age of 90, in the final weeks of his life, he could be seen piloting his barge, laden with sheep and cattle - and a tractor, across to the islands. 

Dennis is survived by his three daughters, Katie, Hilary and Alison, and by his three grandchildren, Anna, Alexander and Alice.

The family are so grateful to all those who travelled from such a distance to attend the Service, and they are also deeply appreciative of the very many kind messages of sympathy received.