Eulogy for Wor. Bro. Tommy Millar BEM - 27 September 2010
Tommy being presented with a gift at the August Meeting of Portsmouth District.
Worshipful Brother Tommy Millar was a much admired and respected senior officer of our Institution here in England. Known and respected throughout the Institution in the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, particularly in Northern Ireland and in the Grand Lodge of Scotland. A member of LOL 213, Martyrs Memorial, Oxford, the immediate Past District Secretary of Portsmouth District Lodge, holding Provincial Officer rank of Grand Secretary. A Sir Knight of the Red Cross of the Royal Black Preceptory of the British Commonwealth and an Apprentice Boy of Derry. A proud recipient of the British Empire Medal for services to the Army. A retired Warrant Officer, WOII, from the Royal Irish Rangers (but a SKIN at heart). A retired Civil Servant, where he had been a Trades Union activist. An Orangeman for all of his adult life. A proud, fiercely loyal Ulsterman who was British through and through. A very, very special person. A man of honour, duty, integrity, filled with faith, hope and love. A gentleman. A Christian and a true Protestant.
There are only a handful of people who come into your world, and touch your life in a dramatic fashion. Some of the people are just flickers of light during a long life, while others are consistent glows for years. For me, Tommy was my consistent glow. I am privileged to call him my friend and my mentor. There are only a few people who have walked into my life and changed it forever. Tommy was one such person and I enjoyed spending time with him. He taught me, amongst many things, that life is short, and the most important part of life is the people in it. I will be grateful for his teachings forever.
Tommy made you so comfortable around him. I felt like I could tell him anything; ask him anything, like he was the brother I never knew I had. For the first time in a long time, there was a consistent figure in my life, which I could turn to for friendship, advice, information, guidance and support. That friendship and support was to continue for ten years. For seven of those years I was privileged to work with him as my Secretary. Most days over that time I would speak to Tommy on the telephone. An intended few minutes call would in the blink of an eye last an hour or two.
The mundane administration of a membership organisation was and is never ending. Tommy had a great flair for “Admin”. Under his watch we streamlined meetings. Creating working parties introduced and implemented a Health and Safety Policy, Process and Procedure. Compiled and published an Officers Hand Book, introduced a standard Band Contract and Code of Practice, carried out a feasibility study in to our organisation in the South of England. Created and sustained a presence on the World Wide Webb. Handled many investigations, disciplinary panels and initiated enquiries and submitted reports. An immense undertaking for any organisation let alone a voluntary one totally reliant upon its officers and member’s goodwill in freely giving of their time.
Tommy, recognising the importance of technology, actively embraced the computer age and Information Technology. In true military fashion did battle with the demon, mastered and defeated it. Like the infantryman he was he stormed his objective, cleared it, went through it and returned to mop up! We had great discussions about security encryption and security certificates to ensure our communications were seamlessly and securely transmitted electronically. Firewalls and antivirus protection, the use of Lotus in comparison to Word and Windows, spam and phishing events were discussed. I’ll let you all in to a secret. We both gave up on Voice over the Internet, - a County Down man talking to a Londonderry man - we sounded like the McGooees!! Even with all the security protocols in place Tommy still had to send out Summonses and other correspondence reliant upon the Royal Mail. The manila envelope sealed and cellotaped all around the edges was a familiar object to my postman and to many here today. Tommy was “a belt and braces man”, leaving nothing to chance. The Vatican Curia would have had the dickens of a job intercepting the mail as I had opening it. Doing all this in his seventies and eighties and coping with failing eyesight, ill health and personal bereavement. He put younger, more able, more technically capable people to shame.
Tommy was one of the prime movers in supporting the setting up and continued running of the Metropolitan Province Benevolent Fund. He recognised that in these difficult times it was sensible to have recourse to funds to give charitable aid to those of our Institution who were suffering hardship or tragedy. Some here today are aware of the work done by that fund and of the individuals and families that have been assisted through its efforts. As Provincial Secretary, Tommy administered the fund. His dedication in this task and to his all encompassing role as Provincial Secretary was exemplary.
Many years ago in Londonderry, Tommy was asked a question. “What do you stand most in need off?” He replied, “Light.” He was then asked, “Did you get that light?” He replied “Yes!” Some years later when he was living here in England he was forced to answer the same questions (much to his chargin and mine when he told me about it). He gave the same answers. When responding to these and other questions for the second time he received more than he bargained for. But it was that light that Tommy sought and indeed found many, many years previously in Londonderry which kept and sustained him. That Light, the light of the world was and is our Lord Jesus Christ.
Doing his “duty” was as natural to Tommy as getting up in the morning. Tommy “kept the faith” with our Institution and with the able assistance, support and love of his family continued in his role of Provincial Secretary until the day he died.
A few of our conversations were about Tommy’s military service. He would have the odd go at me about being a Military Policeman, a “Red Cap”. We talked about his regiment, the 1st Btn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers the 27th of Foot Raised for the defence of Enniskillen in 1689. Established on the English Army lists in 1690 for the Williamite Wars. He was proud of his regiment.
We both knew the famous (or infamous - because of his sojourns to fight a very personal war against the Mau Mau in Kenya), Sgt “Yap Kelly”, a Sligo man, the Provost Sergeant from the Skins who was in 1974, serving with The Irish Rangers, in the British Army Of the Rhine, Hemer, West Germany. He was then the oldest serving soldier in the British Army, and as I recall, a terrible man for drinking tea and administering a “cuff round the lugs” as summary justice “to these young cubs”, The Rangers. Many’s the time the retort “Ach sure – never worry about paperwork young Mills (I used to be young!) – I’ll deal with them!” And Tommy knew full well what that meant. After one such walk down memory lane or a bit of “pull up that sand bag and we’ll tell a few stories” I received another package from Tommy. On eventually opening it I found he had sent me a framed picture of The Skins Battle Honours. It hangs in my home today in pride of place. That gift was typical of Tommy, generous to a fault.
I looked again at the regimental mottos of the units in which Tommy served with such distinction:
· Royal Irish Rangers: Faugh A Ballagh – Gaelic - Clear the way!
· Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers: Nec Aspera Terrant – Latin - By difficulties undaunted
· To me the motto of the Royal British Legion says it all about Tommy “Service not Self.”
Tommy’s death was sudden, unexpected. When I heard the news I simply could not believe it. I knew full well that he had been in ill health for many years, but in “Ulster fashion he was the creaking door, the one that hangs the longest”. I have realized that Tommy indeed lived his life wonderfully. Tommy was well-loved and he had done so many things on earth and I’m sure he’ll do much more in heaven. I will forever be grateful to have known Tommy. I will forever be grateful for spending 10 years of my life with a friend like him. All the memories I have shared with him will forever be cherished and remembered. Tommy will forever live in my heart… In our hearts.
At this time of sorrow
May you see God's light on
the path ahead
When the road you walk is dark.
May you always hear,
Even in your hour of sorrow,
The gentle singing of the lark.
When times are hard may hardness
Never turn your heart to stone,
May you always remember
when the shadows fall — You do not walk alone.
For a man who has done his natural duty, death is as natural as sleep. --Farewell Sar’nt Major, until we meet again by God’s grace when we all shall account before Him. I’ll not be one bit surprised to see you taking the minutes of the meeting.