Many congratulations to Billy Adair, a lifelong parishioner of St George’s Parish Church, Belfast, Diocese of Connor, who celebrated his 100th birthday on February 16, 2021.
Billy, a well-known church organist, lives independently, and after a stay in hospital and respite care due to post-Covid complications just after Christmas, he was back home for his special day.
Billy’s daughter Gill Adair said he had been thrilled to receive cards from Her Majesty the Queen, the Lord Lieutenant and the Bishop of Connor, Rt Rev George Davison. There were also cards from the Ulster Society of Organists and Choirmaster and one signed by former choir members of St James’ Parish Church, now part of the United Parish of St Peter and St James, in Belfast’s Antrim Road.
Gill said the highlight of Billy’s day had been a video call with his wife Dorothy, who is currently living in a care home.
Although his heart is in St George’s, St James’ Church, which closed in 2008, is also very special to Billy, as he was organist and choirmaster there for more than 20 years. After the building closed for worship, Billy continued to play the organ in different churches until he was aged 94! Gill said he still enjoys writing articles for the St George’s parish magazine.
Leaving school at 16, Billy worked all his life with the textile firm of William Ewart and Son. His relationship with music pre-dates even his business life. In an interview for the Connor diocesan magazine Connor Connections in 2007, he explained how he came to play the organ. “When I was 15 I had a friend, Arthur Martin, who was a well-known teacher of organists and choristers at the Shankill Road Mission. I became his apprentice more or less by teaching myself the organ. I ended up doing most of the organ playing in those days and eventually decided I must have proper organ lessons.”
He went to classes run by Captain CJ Brennan, organist at Belfast Cathedral, and his first church appointment was when he was 18, in St Michael’s, Shankill Road. From there, Billy went to St Patrick’s in Jordanstown, and later moved to St John’s Parish, Malone, with its all-male choir, where he stayed 14 years.
After a time in Lisburn Cathedral, he moved to St Mark’s, Dundela, Diocese of Down and Dromore, where he played at the 10am service on a voluntary basis for 15 years.
Soon after he retired from business in February 1986, Billy took on the job of organist at St James’s.
“An organist’s job is time consuming,” Billy said in 2007. “It takes a lot of thought and preparation for the music at each service. It requires tact as well as musicality in handling choir practices.”
Gill says Billy continues to enjoy good health after having a triple heart by-pass and a pacemaker fitted 22 years ago.
Billy and Dorothy are parents to Gill and her brother Stephen, and grandparents to Aaron and Helen.
The Rev Brian Stewart, rector of St George’s Parish Church, described Billy as ‘a treasure.’ “He is gentle, devout and a lovely man to have around the place,” said Brian.
Happy birthday Billy!
Read more news from the Diocese of Connor on their website here.