8th Belfast HAA Obituaries

       Harry McKibbin died on 3rd September 2001 aged 86, deeply mourned by all who knew him. He had enjoyed a long, varied and fulfilling life. Harry was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution, where he learned his rugby, playing for four years on its 1st XV, captaining it in the Schools' Cup winning year of 1934, in which year he was head boy of the School. He proceeded to Queen's University where he graduated LLB in 1938 and then became apprenticed to the late John A Adrain. His apprenticeship was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II; he joined the 8th Belfast Regiment of the Royal Artillery, served in France with the British Expeditionary Force, was evacuated from Dunkirk, served in Burma and was promoted a Major. On demobilisation he completed his apprenticeship with Mr. Adrain in 1947 and in 1948 he became a partner in the long-established firm of S & R Crymble, with which he remained a partner until its dissolution in 1980, when he and Harry Junior (now a Resident Magistrate) practiced together until 1998 when failing health forced retirement.
       Harry was a deeply religious man who throughout his professional life practiced his beliefs and was highly esteemed by his peers and his clients for his integrity, knowledge and the assiduous manner in which he conducted his practice. Harry was internationally known for his magnificent services to the game of rugby, first as a player and later as a respected administrator. On leaving school, he played as a centre for Queen's University, making his debut for Ireland in 1938, when on the strength of one cap against Wales, he was selected for the British Lions' tour of South Africa captained by the late Sammy Walker.
He played in all three test matches of that tour (being by many astute observers deemed the finest of the British players) and for Ireland three Home Internationals in 1939, by which time his reputation as a magnificent centre was firmly established and but for the War, he would certainly have won many more caps. On demobilisation he played for Instonians until retiring from the game.
       His administrative services to rugby were legion - President of the Queen's University Rugby Club, and Irish Selector for 3 years, the Irish representative on the International Board for 20 years, President of the Ulster Branch in 1962/63 and President of the Irish Rugby Football Union in its centenary year, 1974/75. All these legendary services to the game were happily - and justly - recognised when in 1975 Her Majesty the Queen awarded him the honour of a CBE.
       Above all, Harry was a dedicated family man and the sympathy of all who knew him is extended to his devoted wife Sheila, his children Harry, Deborah, Roger and Alastair and his 11 grandchildren.
T Q King

The Writ - http://www.lawsoc-ni.org/download/Writ_Sept%2001.pdf (page 21)

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