Obituary - Jack Lachlan

John (Jack) Lachlan
29 December 1915 - 11 December 2004

Jack Lachlan, St John's most senior elder, died on 11 December last year, just short of his 89th birthday. He was one of a family of nine - many of whom have lived to a ripe old age.

As a young man, Jack saw service in the army, as an administrator in the pay corps in the Middle East. For most of his working life he was a registrar, though he also became a Senior Welfare Officer. It is not difficult to see how well suited he must have been to such professions. He was exact, self-disciplined - and indeed expected others to be the same!

Some 55 years ago he and Ina were married, after her first husband had been killed in the War. Jack took Ina's son Willie into his heart and home. He experienced of course the terrible sadness of bereavement when Ina died in 1993; but he did not allow his private grief to dominate his life. He was often out and about, and was a frequent visitor to his sisters, Jean and Nancy, in Miltongrange.

Jack had a great love for the Lord and for his church. Ordained on 16 December 1956, 48 years ago, he was St John's most senior elder by a long way and was seldom absent from worship. He visited his district faithfully for as long as he was able; he was still attending meetings till just a few years ago - often asking questions and making comments that showed - unlike many of us - that he'd read the minutes of the previous meetings!

But though he would often express his opinion about things, he was not a man to display easily his deepest feelings. We could all do a lot worse than follow his example - scrupulously honest, straight as a die, faithful to his God and ours. We give thanks for a life well-lived.