WE’RE SO PROUD OF HIM DAD’S MOVING TRIBUTE AT FUNERAL OF STORM VICTIM
IT was an emotional and fitting final farewell.
Hundreds of family, friends and work colleagues turned out yesterday morning to pay their last respects to Robert Matthew (Matt) Campbell, who died after being struck by a falling tree during Storm Ali last Wednesday.
The Lagan Construction electrician from Glengormley had been working for NI Water at Slieve Gullion Forest Park, near Newry.
In contrast to the storm that swept through Northern Ireland and claimed the life of the 24-year-old, autumn sunshine blessed the colourful occasion his family had asked for.
Mourners gathered at Fleming and Cuthbert Funeral Home in Ballyclare heard his father Mark pay tribute to the son “who never let me down”.
“We are all utterly devastated at Matt’s death,” he said. “But we’re so proud of him and all he achieved in life.”
Mourners heard Matt’s father tell of his son’s love for his family, Liverpool Football Club, the Northern Ireland football team, reading and, above all, for his fiancee Robyn Newberry (23) whom he had been due to marry next year.
“Matt loved his family,” he said. “Next year was going to be a year of celebration for us all. Our daughter Ashley is due to get married in April and Matt and Robyn were to be married on August 31. Robyn had an appointment to pick up the wedding rings the day after he died.
“Matt had worked in H Samuel jewellers in the Abbey Centre when he was younger and that’s where the rings had been bought. The staff were so devastated they didn’t ask Robyn to pay for them. Matt will now take his wedding ring with him,” said Mr Campbell.
The Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle had been booked to host the wedding reception and family and friends received their ‘save the date’ cards just last week.
Mr Campbell continued: “Matt and Robyn had worked hard on their new house in Comber and had so much to look forward to. True, the house was in a bit of a state when Matt bought it, but they had created a wonderful home for themselves.
“Matt was so delighted when his sister Ashley had her baby girl Zara and I knew by the look on his face when he saw Zara for the first time he would have made a wonderful father. Matt and Robyn couldn’t wait to babysit and they got their chance recently. They would have made beautiful parents.
“Matt loved his football and, like his dad, was an avid follower of Liverpool and Northern Ireland. He had been due to go back over to Anfield later this year to watch them play Manchester United. “He’d always been a typical wee boy, sociable and loyal, going to BB and the Anchor Boys, swimming, learning guitar and the violin, and riding his bike around the caravan park at Kellys in Portrush. His mother had to hold tight to him when out shopping as he was always inquisitive.
“Family meant so much to him. Even though he was living in Comber he’d be a regular visitor to see his mum and he’d recently joined a masonic lodge with his grandfather. I know his grandfather was delighted.
“And he recently started training with Ards Rugby Club as he was determined to get into shape for next year’s weddings.
“He loved his schools — Ballyhenry Nursery, Primary and then RBAI — and we’ve been touched at the depth of feeling his former teachers have shown for him. RBAI will be naming a prize after him and we’re so proud of that. “He never missed a day at school from P1 through to Upper Sixth,” said Mr Campbell.
The Matthew Campbell Award for Outstanding Attendance will now be awarded at RBAI [Royal Belfast Academical Institution] each year in his memory.
“Matt had a real love of reading and writing and over the past few days I’ve been looking through some the poems he’d written,” said Mr Campbell.
“He so much wanted to finish writing a book. He’d read all the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings books when he was younger but it was the fantasy author Terry Goodkind who was his inspiration. I know he’d read the series of books at least fourteen times and always kept turning back to them for inspiration. I even found a letter he’d written to the author in the hope of getting a reply,” he said.
“He was fond of getting tattoos, all related to the books and movies he loved — though his first tattoo on his back was the school motto of RBAI ‘Quaerere Verum’ (To Seek the Truth).
“After school he never wanted to go to university and instead took up an apprenticeship as an electrician. He excelled and was so happy in his work, particularly recently when he was back out in the field, doing what he loved. Little did we know it would cost him his life.”
Fighting back tears, he continued: “We are so grateful to all the emergency services who were with Matt when he died. We can’t praise them enough.
“It gives us great comfort to know Matt wasn’t on his own at the end and we thank them for all they have done for us since last Wednesday, especially for letting us see Matt so soon after the accident and allowing us to kiss him goodbye.” The family had asked for a colourful send-off for their son and many turned out wearing Liverpool FC and Northern Ireland football shirts and scarves.
“We have been overwhelmed by the appreciation from everyone over these past few days,” Mr Campbell added. “Particularly from his old schools and his colleagues at work. We will always remember Matt for his positive outlook on life and we would give everything away to have him back with us.
“The last time I spoke to him was on the phone the night before he died. I’d been in a small car accident and he was worried, but I told him no-one was hurt, the insurance will sort it. He said ‘love you dad’ and I told him ‘love you son’ the way our conversations usually ended. That was the last thing I said to him.”
The celebration of Matt’s life had opened with a rendition of the Michael Bublé song ‘Close Your Eyes’, which Matt and Robyn had chosen to be their first dance at their wedding next year.
Matt’s sister, Ashley, then paid tribute by reading two poems, one written by Matt for his fiancee Robyn, called ‘My Love’.
“It was wonderful to have so talented a brother. You are here in my heart and my mind and your stories live on. I will make you proud,” she told mourners.
Matt’s coffin was draped in his Liverpool FC shirt and carried from the funeral home to the anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’. After the celebration of his life, interment took place in Ballyclare Cemetery.
Matt is survived by dad Mark, mum Pamela, sister Ashley and her fiance Keith, his niece Zara and his fiancee Robyn.