Coronavirus: ‘A very fine fellow and a man of faith’ passed away after four week battle with Covid-19

Lifelong friends last night expressed affection and grief for David Andrews, 67, who is survived by his wife, Heather and children Askey, Frances and David.

An electrician who spent many years working for NI Water, he had been a member of the Commons Silver Band in Newry for 60 years.

Friends and supporters in other churches had been faithfully praying for him for weeks, however he passed away on Thursday night.

Mr Andrews was also a former District Master for Newry in the Royal Black Institution and chairman of Newry Credit Union.

Rev Bryan Kee of Sandys Street Presbyterian Church in Newry said there was comfort in knowing David had such a genuine faith.

“I would describe David as a down-to-earth, caring, fine Christian man who loved the Lord and Christ’s Church,” he told the News Letter.

“He served faithfully in Sandy Street church and loved to do it.”

As well as being caretaker, David was chairman of the church committee, a member of the choir and played the drums.

“He was a genuine Christian and made great strides as a member of the Newry Black and Orange Christian Fellowship. And he was the go-to-man for all practical matters in the church,” he added.

David, who also suffered from fibromyalgia, had been in hospital with Covid-19 for four weeks, which had been “very hard” for all concerned, Rev Kee said.

“At first he was admitted to Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry, then he was transferred to Craigavon Area Hospital and lastly he was transferred to Antrim Area Hospital for treatment.”

Robert Boyd, Newry Royal Black District Registrar, went to Newry Technical College with David in the 1960s.

“He was very committed to the Orange and Black and was a past District Master in the Black for Newry District,” he said. “And he was very much a Christian - always kind and helpful.

“He was also involved in the local Credit Union - he was always there when it was open on Saturday mornings.”

Newry UUP councillor David Taylor, who knew him for many years, said he had “a very strong Christian faith and was very faithful to his local church”. He added: “He was a very committed family man. His presence will be missed first and foremost by them but also by everyone else who knew him.”

UUP chairman Danny Kennedy, a former MLA for Newry and Armagh, said he was “deeply grieved” by David’s passing.

“He was a friend of over 40 years, having known him through the Commons Silver Band,” he said. “As a drummer he was part of the band that played at my wedding reception. And he was also a part of a group of friends when we travelled together to see Northern Ireland play in the World Cup in Spain in 1982.

“He was a very fine fellow and a man of faith. His loss will be grieved by his family and the wider community in Newry.”