Final journey of farewell for Frank Hughes

THE death took place peacefully in hospital on Monday of former bookmaker Frank Hughes who was born on June 19th 1925 when people were still recovering from World War I.

Frank was born in Portadown where his father, John, was a cattle dealer, so it was no surprise that he was to become a butcher. He was also an Irish long jump champion and an Ulster decathlon champion.

Frank opened up a butcher’s shop at 1 Kildare Street, Newry and it was while taking the train there daily from Portadown that he met his late wife Reeta who was travelling from Belfast to Newry to teach visually impaired people to read Braille.

They were married in 1953, first settling in Rostrevor and then in Newry where their six sons were born. Frank opened up a second butchery business but, having cousins in Portadown who were bookmakers, he thought that would be a lot less hard work so he converted his home in West Street, Portadown into a betting office.

As his sons grew up, Frank expanded his betting business and, from an early age, all the boys were pressed into working in the betting shops. After a few years, he dispensed with the butcher shops.

In the family eulogy delivered on Monday, it was recalled that Frank wasn’t always a workaholic as he was a prominent member of the Carlingford Lough Yacht Club and words like ‘Flying 15’ and ‘Enterprise’ (types of Yachts) were frequently bandied about the Hughes home.

He also had a great interest in show jumping, as did his son Gregory who represented Ireland at Under 18 level.

Own way

Reeta made sure Frank didn’t get his own way all the time, introducing him to art and foreign travel. Every Sunday for many years, they would visit stately homes, examining lots being offered at upcoming auctions. Both became known throughout Ireland as experts in this field.

They were fortunate enough to travel the world from Brazil to China and, when watching television Frank would say “Mummy and me were there!” They were everywhere! To be able to travel, they were fortunate to have a wonderful housekeeper in Pauline who was devoted to them and the boys.

The couple moved to Seaview, Warrenpoint in the late 1980s when Frank was stepping back from his business. He loved Warrenpoint so much that he encouraged most of his family to move there as well.

Reeta, the love of Frank’s life, died in November 2014. He was heartbroken but carried on with the support of his family. One of his godsends was the introduction of live horse racing every day on television. He watched each race, marking the result in his daily Irish News.

Frank, who was a devout mass-goer as was Reeta, was extremely proud of his six sons who all followed in his footsteps as bookmakers; some have shops while the others work on racecourses.

As he got older, life became more challenging for Frank and he needed assistance around the house. Into his life entered some wonderful women who were thanked by the boys on Monday for providing their father with company and craic.

The family also thanked all the NHS Staff in Craigavon Hospital who made Frank’s time there a little bit easier, Canon Kearney for the blessings he gave Frank in hospital and all those who helped with the funeral arrangements in such a stressful time.

The Irish Field would like to extend its sympathies to Frank’s sons John, Hugo, Franco, Mel, Gregory and Finbar.