Tributes to Portadown businessman who died suddenly

A well known Portadown man will be laid to rest tomorrow (Thursday).
David Hull with his Maunday Money which he received from The Queen at St Patrick's Cathederal, Armagh. PT14-230.David Hull with his Maunday Money which he received from The Queen at St Patrick's Cathederal, Armagh. PT14-230.
David Hull with his Maunday Money which he received from The Queen at St Patrick's Cathederal, Armagh. PT14-230.

Described as “a humble and self-effacing Christian gentleman” David Hull, 89, from Portadown, died suddenly on Monday.

He and his wife Ethel started and ran a chain of Christian bookshops for many years and he served as a lay preacher in the Portadown and other Methodist circuits.

Mr Hull also served the Methodist Home Mission for 13 years during the 1950s and 1960s, distributing Christian literature and touring all over Ireland, mainly on a motorcycle.

As well as his wife, he is survived by sons Jonathan and Stephen, daughters-in-law Suzanne and Anna, and grandchildren Amy, Christopher, Laura, Jacob and Ella.

Rev Aian Ferguson of Edenderry Methodist Church in Portadown paid a warm tribute to Mr Hull’s character.

“David was simply a humble, self-effacing Christian gentleman and a great family man,” he said.

“He loved history and gardening, growing his own vegetables and many other flowers and plants. He was also a lay preacher for many years and was a very faithful member of the church.”

The clergyman noted that Mr Hull and his wife had opened and ran Christian bookshops in Kilkeel, Rathfriland, Portadown and Banbridge.

The couple had travelled to Fermanagh on Sunday to visit relatives and while there attended a special annual church service on the theme of friendship at Clabby Church of Ireland.

In 2008 Mr Hull’s many years of service to the Methodist Church in Ireland where recognised when the Queen presented him with Maundy Money during her visit to Armagh.

Accompanied by Mrs Hull, he received the famous red and white purses, with one containing a specially minted five pense coin and a 50p piece, and the other 82p in the Royal Maundy money; the significance of the number 82 was the Queen’s age in 2008.

His funeral service will take place on Thursday at 2pm at Edenderry Methodist Church, Portadown.

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