Tribute to the late Rev. Tommy Noble

It was with deep regret, that in May of 2006, one of our old boys, and a former Chaplin of both our Company and Battalion, sadly passed away. The Reverend Tommy Noble was to everyone who knew him, a great encouragement and inspiration. Below follows the transcript of the tribute paid to him at his funeral service.

REV. THOMAS ANDERSON NOBLE

I am certain that, like me, we gather this morning with a sense of disbelief. Is it possible that the Rev. Tommy has parted from us ? If we have that feeling of unreality, how much more must that be so for a loving wife and family? Right at the outset Thelma, and all your family, I want to assure you of the sympathy of everyone here, and indeed many who could not be here, including friends in the United States of America and Canada. At this time of sudden loss you are in our love and prayers. You Thelma as a devoted wife for almost 46 years, your sons Peter and Alan with your wives Sharon and Johann, grandchildren Rebecca, Louise and Sophie. Tommy’s sister Nan, husband Billy, along with your family Heather and Michael. Tommy loved you all. His family was an important anchor in his life, and he often talked about you with great pride and admiration. He really looked forward to those special occasions when you could all be together as a family. You have lost a great husband, father, grandfather, brother, father- in-law, and friend. May God bless you all.

 

Thomas Anderson Noble was born on the 31st.July 1930 into a wonderful loving family in the Castlereagh area of Belfast. Sadness came early to Tommy and his family when an older brother Harry died at 8 years of age when Tommy was just 6 yrs.old. Nan was born over 15 years after him and so Tommy always referred to her as his baby sister. He attended Euston Street Primary School and then Belfast High School. He openly confessed that he was never a man for “the books”, and admitted that his main interest at Belfast High was rugby. His skill at the game was acknowledged when he was chosen to play for the school First Fifteen at the age of 14. He continued playing rugby for a number of years with Londonderry and Belfast Clubs. He was known as a very committed player. He may have been small of stature, but he certainly made up for that in toughness and courage. Those qualities were part of his make up.

 

He was employed as a Laboratory Technician in Mallories which specialised in making batteries, and then in the linen industry in Lambeg Mills. During this time he gained his Higher National Diploma in Chemistry. Many are the stories of Tommy’s exploits, or as he preferred to call them, experiments which sometimes went wrong. Some of his work pals were a little hesitant when Tommy suggested something new which they might do with chemicals.

 

The Noble family in Tommy’s early days belonged to McQuiston Memorial Presbyterian church; but Tommy liked the idea of playing football as well as rugby and he came to hear of the good football played by the 25th Belfast. Boys Brigade Company attached to Cregagh Methodist Church, so he joined and loved the B.B. Rumour has it that after a few weeks with Tommy, the Officers were not so sure that his membership was a good idea. Often their patience was sorely stretched, and their doubts were confirmed by the fact that Tommy joined as a Private and a few years later left as a Private. Not a stripe achieved.. However, here is the encouragement for all those working with young people; the boy who seemingly did not succeed in the B.B. later went to Africa and formed the first B.B. Company in the Cote d’Ivoire, and later still became Chaplain of his old Company the 25th, and not only that but Belfast Battalion Chaplain too. Well done Tommy. You showed them!

 

A crucial decision which was to change Tommy’s life was made in Cregagh Methodist Church when in response to the love of God through Christ, Tommy knelt at the communion rail and committed his life to his Saviour. He was received into the Full Membership of the Methodist Church in June 1950.

 

Very shortly afterwards, with surprise to himself as well as his friends, he had to admit the conviction that God was calling him into full time ministry in the Methodist Church. That was in 1952. He applied himself to Local Preachers studies, and served as Lay Evangelist in Carlisle Road, Londonderry . All this time being advised by the late Rev. Dr. Eric Gallagher and the Rev.Brian Cobbe. Tommy was accepted as a Candidate for the Ministry in June 1954. That was when I first met him, after a written examination, and our friendship has continued over all these years. All of this time Mr and Mrs Noble were so proud of their son, and supported every decision he was making; and followed his ministry with interest until their passing.

 

His preparation years for Ordination were spent in Lisbellaw for two years, Edgehill Theological College for two years, and in the Grosvenor Hall for two years. While Tommy was in Edgehill College, one of his fellow students was Morris Taggart, and Morris and his then girlfriend Margaret invited separately Tommy Noble and Thelma Kinsella to a Christmas party in Margaret’s home in Donegal Place. That was when they first met, and as Morris says “the rest is history”. They were ideally suited to each other, and that has been confirmed over and over again, since their marriage in July 1960. in Donegal Square Methodist Church. Tommy and Thelma have had a wonderful ministry together.

 

That ministry began in offering for service with the Methodist Missionary Society, and they went to Selly Oak College in Birmingham, and Paris, for training to work in the Ivory Coast. There, Tommy was Chaplain to the English speaking community in Abijan, and he visited villages to set up Boys Brigade Companies. He often had to preach in French, so it was helpful that one of Thelma’s specialist subjects as a teacher, was French.. They were greatly loved there, and would like to have stayed longer, but for medical reasons returned to Ireland after three years service. They continued faithful service to the Church here. Working in Craigy Hill, Larne. Bandon in West Cork. Ligoniel in North Belfast during the height of the troubles – a very difficult time. Then here in Glengormley, then Bloomfield, and back to his home church Cregagh in 1988. Many wondered how wise this appointment was, sending Tommy back to where he was so well known, but in fact that proved to be an advantage for his ministry in many ways. Also when in Cregagh he was asked by the Church to pastorally help through the closure of that other church in Tommy and Thelma’s life, Donegal Square. This was emotionally a very difficult time for the Square people but especially for Tommy. However his knowledge of the situation, his love for people, and his wise counsel, helped all through the heartache.

 

Tommy retired in June 1996 and settled here in the Glengormley church and community. In his retirement he continued his interest in rugby as a T.V. observer. Could discuss knowledgeably the tactics of the game, and had strong views particularly about the future of schools rugby. He played indoor bowls. He enjoyed his trips to the quietness of the Caravan in Newcastle, looking out to the splendour of the Mournes. He enjoyed his dogs, and had a good knowledge of their behaviour and how they should be groomed. Many of the young people in this area came to know him as the friendly wee man who walked his dog in the local park. He was a welcome speaker at assemblies in local schools, especially Hillcroft Special Needs School. His dog was the visual aid for a meaningful talk to the young folk. Add to this his interest in Tropical Fish, birds, and his skill in building Dolls Houses. He also got a lot of enjoyment by being a member of a small Investment Club. The other sport which he loved and played in his more youthful days, was Table Tennis. He played it very well. His capacity to spin the ball left many a good player bewildered.

 

All of us today have our own special memories of Tommy Noble. We think particularly of his friendliness. He had the great ability to strike up a conversation with absolute strangers. That conversation was always with enthusiasm. He was a great neighbour, friendly and so helpful. Many people benefited from his wise counsel. He never professed to being an academic in the bookish sense, but he possessed a very important quality known as common sense. He had the ability to get right to the core of a problem, and was not a man for wasting words; he said exactly what he thought, and sometimes he realised that it might have hurt, and would ask “ Did I go too far?” and if so would apologise. With Tommy you got what you saw. No masks or sham, the real man. He would have smiled if anyone had tried to describe him as diplomatic or tolerant. Yet I know of many occasions when he was both. He had what I would describe as a Godly impatience to see things happen in the Church and community. That kind of impatience is often the dynamic for positive change, and we are grateful for Tommy’s expression of that frustration.

 

Tommy Noble had a marvelous sense of humour, which revealed itself in so many ways. Sometimes you had to not only listen to what he was saying, but look into his eyes to see if there was any appearance of a twinkle, just to make sure he was not ‘winding you up’. He was such a mischief that he could lob into a conversation a seemingly innocent question or comment, and then sit back with glee and watch a debate explosion which he had created. He was a wit, and brilliant at repartee. I have been reminded too of a fishing expedition a number of us made to a river on the Fermanagh Cavan border, and when we caught a pike there was a hot debate about whether the fish was a Northern one or a Southern one. Tommy made sure that the Border issue was a significant one!

He was the practical joker supreme. I say that from personal experience with him in College, on holiday, and at other social gatherings. In college if the ducks were in the Chairman’s bedroom instead of the pond, or if Matron’s cat looked nervous, you could be certain that Tommy was involved somewhere in there.

 

When I was in Edgehill College, Tommy encouraged me to go on a ‘blind date’. I did so, and have never recovered, pleasantly so, I hasten to add, because he introduced me to Joan who has been my wife all these years. But that introduction initiated me into a group of friends from Cregagh Methodist Church who were members of Christian Endeavour and Youth Club. That group began to meet in each others homes in 1959, and our first get together was to pray ‘God speed’ to Tommy and Thelma as they went into Missionary service. That group now known by the rather unimaginative name “The Crowd” have met together every 6 to 8 weeks until now, without a break. It must be unique. Tommy loved those occasions, and had so much to offer us all. We will miss him terribly.

 

The Rev. Tom Noble’s ministry was marked by efficiency, conviction, loving pastoral care, and a straightforward preaching of the Word. Not for a moment would he have said that he was a good preacher, but he believed he was called to preach; he liked preaching and he was a good communicator. He took seriously the instruction of Paul to the young Timothy: “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season: correct, rebuke, and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction”, and echoing Paul’s words in First Corinthians: “When I preach the Gospel I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel”. Many people have been led to faith, encouraged, instructed, challenged, and rebuked, through Tommy’s faithful total ministry. He was so sorry when he had to decide a short time ago to stop what he loved so much, preaching.

 

Tommy’s health has not been marvelous recently, and he was becoming increasingly aware of the physical restrictions of age. Spiritually , he said that his “faith was smaller”, and when asked what he meant, he made it clear that his faith had not decreased, but rather that it was more focused and intense. For him that is certainly true since last Friday afternoon when he passed home to the God who made him, called him, and empowered him. Tommy we all will miss you, but especially your devoted family will miss you. Thank you for all you have added to our lives. You have heard “Well done, good and faithful servant, and entered the joy of your Lord” and we all say “Amen”.