David Brewster Memorial Lecture: Former RUC officer turned Presbyterian minister to speak about narrowly escaping in a death terrorist ambush and his journey to faith
A former RUC officer turned minister is to give a special lecture in Limavady on how he narrowly escaped a death terrorist ambush and his journey to faith and service in the Presbyterian Church.
County Fermanagh cleric Rev Rodney Beacom will give the talk as guest speaker at the annual David Brewster Memorial Lecture in Limavady.
Event organiser Aaron Callan said: "This annual lecture is held in memory of Limavady solicitor David Brewster, whose dedication to the community, heritage, and faith continues to inspire those who knew him. It is a fitting tribute that this year’s guest speaker, Rev Rodney Beacom, will share his personal journey in a talk titled Crossing the Line.
"As a former RUC officer, he will reflect on the impact of the Troubles, his close encounter with terrorism, and his path to faith and service in the Presbyterian Church."
"David Brewster was deeply committed to preserving history and encouraging open discussion about the past. This event is not only an opportunity to remember his contributions but also to engage with an important and thought-provoking story of service, sacrifice, and resilience."
Mr Brewster was involved in local politics up until the early 2000s.
He was chairman of Limavady Football Club, president of the Roe Valley Chamber of Commerce, ran his own legal practice and was a founding member of the Roe Valley Historic Society.
A former secretary of the UUP and election agent for Willie Ross MP, he was involved in the talks that led to the Belfast agreement and was secretary of the East Londonderry UUP Association.
"He died suddenly in 2021 and it was quite a shock for the community. A few of us felt something had to be done to remember him so we created a local library with his book collection and decided to do a memorial lecture each year.
"I would say I knew David for about 30 years. I would say he was an enigmatic character who always worked in the best interests of those he knew and his local community. We think the annual lecture is a fitting tribute to his contribution to the community.”
Last year the guest speaker, Rev Beacom, released a DVD telling the story of his life.
A minister of Lisbellaw, Lisnaskea, Maguiresbridge and Newtownbutler Presbyterian Churches.
While serving in the RUC Reserve he and his colleagues narrowly escaped death during a terrorist ambush.
It was at this "fork in the road", he said last year, that his "life-affirming relationship with God begins and has powered his mission of faith".
At the end of the Troubles, he said, over 3,700 people had been murdered, more than 47,500 injured, and an untold number of people traumatised.
“I was one of the injured, and 'Crossing the Line' is my story of how the Troubles impacted me, my brush with death, and how in Christ Jesus I crossed the line and received new and everlasting life in Him.”
Rev Beacom is also a deputy grand chaplain of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, the county grand chaplain of County Fermanagh Grand Orange Lodge, and a member of Lisbellaw True Blues LOL 315.
• The David Brewster Memorial Lecture takes place at Limavady Orange Heritage Centre on Friday 28 March at 7:30pm.