Tom 'got things done'
A FANTASTIC servant to Magheralin, Lurgan and beyond has died.
Tom Megarrell passed away early on the morning of Wednesday, May 6. He was 73.
The Magheralin man was best known as a local councillor who got things done, hard-working chairman of the Mechanic's Institute and a long-serving member of Magheralin Orange Lodge.
Tom was born in 1936 to Alfred and Emily Megarrell of Steps Road. He was one of nine children and went to Magheralin Primary School and Lurgan Technical College in William Street.
He took up employment at Irwin's factory in the village where he was a hem-stitcher before he moved to Short & Harland aircraft factory in Belfast. Tom then joined the Merchant Navy as a second engineer where he spent around eight years at sea.
When he returned Tom went to work in the Optical factory in Lurgan and following that took on an insurance agency. Upon leaving the insurance trade Tom bought a property on Newforge Road and started a general store.
Unfortunately due to ill health in the early 1980s he was forced to sell the shop, which has since become a Centra store. People of a certain age will remember how Tom provided refreshments for a street party to mark the Queen's Silver Jubilee.
Despite his ill health Tom continued, as much as possible, to live life to the full. Tom's companion and friend, Anne Williamson from Carrick Drive, offered great support and care throughout his illness.
Tom Megarrell was probably best known for his work as a councillor in the 60s and 70s.
He was an Official Unionist councillor on the first ever Craigavon Borough Council in the 1970s having previously been a member of Moira Rural Council.
"When he was on council he got a lot of things done in the village," said his brother Trevor.
"Even after he'd left the council some people still thought he was on it because if they had a problem they'd go to him and he could make things happen."
Among his skills as a councillor Tom was great at writing letters and making speeches.
Trevor recalled: "He could have got up and made a speech anywhere to thousands of people without any notes. He was a great speechmaker. With his letters he took time to write a careful response to everyone who brought issues to him.”
When it was suggested a row of houses in Magheralin was to be named after him, Tom refused the accolade, instead suggesting the houses be named after his sister Florence who had recently passed away.
The memory of his sister lives on in ‘Florenceville’, which fronts the road at Malcolmson Park.
At last week’s council meeting Councillor George Savage, a close friend of Tom’s who presented him with the Mayor’s Award in 2005, said he had given long and active service to the community.
Tom had been a member of the Official Unionist Party for over 50 years and had also been awarded a medal for his half-century service to the Orange Order through LOL 407 in Magheralin.
Tom was a member of the Royal Black Preceptory, the Grand Masonic Lodge, the Apprentice Boys and the Royal British Legion. He was a familiar face at Lurgan Mechanic’s Institute where he was chairman for 22 years and a member for even longer than that.
The Magheralin man was a big fan of motorcycles and the North West 200 was one of the highlights of his calendar.
Tom is survived by his brothers James, Trevor and Albert. His funeral service was at Magheralin Parish Church and he was buried in the adjoining cemetery.
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Weather for Lurgan
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 6 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 5 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South
