Motorcyclist’s family mourn ‘heart and soul’ of home
THE grieving family and friends of popular Portadown man Trevor Black packed the town’s St Mark’s Church yesterday afternoon as the 55-year old motorcyclist was laid to rest.
Family man Mr Black died when his white Yamaha XT motorcycle was in collision with a black Jeep Renegade on the Coast Road outside Larne last Sunday at around 11am.
Mr Black, a self-employed contractor, was a former pupil of Clounagh Junior High School and Portadown Technical College.
He is survived by his wife Lynn and daughter Kerry.
Speaking at his funeral service, Rev William Orr paid tribute to the much-loved father.
Describing Mr Black as “the heart and soul of his home, and of his beloved family”, Rev Orr said: “All too often we wait until someone dies before we really say what we thought of them.
“I have no doubt that Trevor never really knew just how well liked and thought of he was by so many people.
“Sorrow has a large family. “There are very few people in church today who don’t belong to that particular family
“And on Sunday morning, in the most unexpected and horrific way, Lynn and her family joined that family called ‘sorrow’.” Rev Orr shared with the mourners a wealth of stories and anecdotes from Mr Black’s life with his wife and their daughter Kerry.
The popular motorbike fan was “the heart and soul of many a great week’s craic — whether it was the North West Week, or on a Sunday morning, or while doing a job,” Rev Orr said.
Trevor and Lynn Black had been together for 38 years — 24 of them spent as husband and wife, the clergyman told the congregation.
Mr Black’s remains were interred in Kernan Cemetery following yesterday afternoon’s service.
A second motorcyclist injured in the incident which claimed Mr Black’s life remains in hospital.
Police are calling for anyone who may have any information about the fatal crash to contact them.
PSNI Inspector Colin Ash appealed for anyone who was on the Coast Road at around 11am on Sunday and witnessed the incident to come forward.