THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: Province mourns the death of former Irish golf champion

From the News Letter, September 13, 1925
Mr Thomas Dickson of Bellfield, Banbridge who had passed away at Bedford in England aged 64, had been one of the original members of the Royal County Down Golf Club. He was one of the best players in the country and had the distinction of winning the Irish native amateur championship when it was first competed for in 1893 at PortrushMr Thomas Dickson of Bellfield, Banbridge who had passed away at Bedford in England aged 64, had been one of the original members of the Royal County Down Golf Club. He was one of the best players in the country and had the distinction of winning the Irish native amateur championship when it was first competed for in 1893 at Portrush
Mr Thomas Dickson of Bellfield, Banbridge who had passed away at Bedford in England aged 64, had been one of the original members of the Royal County Down Golf Club. He was one of the best players in the country and had the distinction of winning the Irish native amateur championship when it was first competed for in 1893 at Portrush

On this day in 1925 the News Letter noted “with regret” the death of Mr Thomas Dickson of Bellfield, Banbridge who had passed away at Bedford in England aged 64.

Mr Dickson had been the third son of the late Mr Thomas A Dickson who had represented Dungannon in the Imperial Parliament in the early 1880s.

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Mr Dickson had been educated in Dungannon Royal School and had moved to Banbridge “while quite a young man” and became a partner in the Hazlebank Weaving Company and was in partnership with his cousin, Mr W J D Walker.

The late Mr Dickson took a great interest in all forms of sport, noted the News Letter, and had been a “prominent and popular figure” throughout the Northern Ireland.

He had been one of the original members of the Royal County Down Golf Club, he was one of the best players in the country and had the distinction of winning the Irish native amateur championship when it was first competed for in 1893 at Portrush.

On the cricket field and on the tennis court Mr Dickson had also excelled, “while he was eminently successful with a fine lot of greyhounds at coursing meetings and was an excellent shot with the sporting gun”, remarked the News Letter.

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Mr Dickson’s health had been failing for several years and he had been forced to retire from active business and had found his principal recreation in croquet.

This was a standing which had grown after he had moved to Bedford with his wife and the News Letter while there he had “gained the reputation of being one of the best croquet players in England”.

It was also noted that Mr Dickson had been a member of the Tullylish Presbyterian Church near Banbridge and had been a generous contributor to the church. He had also been associated with the Masonic Order and was a member of the Union Club in Belfast.