Ballymoney is this week starting by mourning the loss of former teacher at Dalriada, local historian and author, Alex Blair.
Mr Blair was well known by many for his regular talks in the town including bus tours around the local area on the local history. Some will simply remember him as their history teacher, one who didn’t need any text-book as it was ‘all in his head’.
Alex Blair was also heavily involved in the Ballymoney Drama festival each year where he held the post as Hon Secretary for many years and the Ballymoney Show where his voice could be heard over the speakers giving the shows regular announcements.
What Alex didn’t know about local history either wasn’t worth knowing or didn’t happen, and the author of several books, his texts were used by locals, academics and scholars alike, as the best reference materials out there.
Alex still lived at the family home by himself, having been an only child and with his mother and father passing some years ago, he had no direct living relatives. But the Blair surname is wide-reaching in Ballymoney so Alex will be sadly missed by not just the extended Blair families but by those who either remember his as a teacher, colleague or friend.
Locals have paid tribute to Mr Blair on social media after learning of his passing on Saturday 30th June;
