Parkrun volunteer Jack was a man who ‘brought laughter to many’
Tributes have been paid after the death of a much-loved father and husband who dedicated himself to a Belfast parkrun in his latter years.
Described as a man who brought laughter to many, Jack Williamson, (95) passed away on Thursday, November 5.
Describing his late father, Jack’s son, George said: “He was definitely a character. He always wanted to entertain people, make them laugh.
The Queen's Parkrun community in Belfast had become an important part of Jack's life and members formed a guard of honour from the doors of Ballylesson Church at his funeral.
Speaking about the Parkrun, George said: “He was there every week, the only time he wasn't there was when he was on holiday or in hospital.”
George explained that people would often ask about his father if he missed a week and that “now they are going to permanently miss him.”
He continued: “He made me my lunch every Sunday, his famous scrambled eggs, which were very unusual but gorgeous, but he wouldn't let me help him. He did it even on the Sunday before he died.”
Born in 1931, Jack lived with his mother in Belfast during the Second World War, while his father worked in England to provide for their family.
Reflecting on the Belfast Blitz, George said: “If you look at the bombing map, you will see where the Germans planned to drop a bomb 20 yards from their house” on Genoa street.
Jack later moved to London, where he lived in a Rowton House, a type of residence offering “cheap accommodation for working men”.
George said: “He didn't have a room, he had a cubicle. He went over with whatever shillings he had in his pocket.”
He started as a hospital porter in London before meeting a man from Dublin who introduced him to the steeplejack trade.
“He said he was earning about £14 a week, which was a lot of money in 1952.”
While he was enjoying the work in England, he returned to Belfast for a two-week holiday, meeting up with Tommy Gilliland who requested his assistance working for Guinness.
“The two weeks ended up as 32 years,” said George.
During his return to Belfast, he also reconnected with his future wife, Minnie, George's mother. The couple later married at St Mary's Church on the Crumlin Road.
“The two of them together were some craic,” said George.
Known for his humour, Jack often performed stand-up routines, continuing to entertain people well into his later years.
He performed for work colleagues and at his local church in Ballylesson, with one of his performances also shared on YouTube.
“The heartiest laughs came from the women in the church,” said George.
George fondly recalled that his father was particularly fond of going on organised pensioners' bus trips across the country.
However, after his wife Minnie passed away more than a decade ago, Jack asked George and his wife to accompany him on the trips.
“I was about 50 and we (George and his wife) were the youngest on the bus by more than 20 years,” he laughed.
“He had this way with people, he was just himself and he treated them in a way that they seemed to love.”
Jack was laid to rest at 2pm on Thursday, November 12, at Holy Trinity Church of Ireland on the Ballylesson Road, outside Belfast.
“He was a strong, positive individual,” George said.