John Langtry MBE

John Carl Langtry, who attended Bangor Grammar School between 1972 and 1979, lost a bravely-fought battle against cancer on 21 November 2017. He was just 57.

A 30-year veteran of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (until his retirement in April 2011), he was awarded the MBE in 2002 for his role in the aftermath of the 1998 Omagh bomb attack, in which 29 people, as well as two unborn twins, were killed. He had been appointed Station Officer for Omagh and Newtownstewart in 1995.

Interviewed at the time by the County Down Spectator, John said the award was recognition of the work of all the firefighters in his team. “I was one of the first officers at the scene,” he recalled. “A number of my friends were injured and I knew a lot of people who lost loved ones. I am very honoured but it’s really an award for everyone here. You can’t do this job alone.”

John had, over many years, dedicated himself to the study of critical incident stress management and post-traumatic stress, graduating from the Open University with a Bachelor’s Degree (1st Class Hons) in Psychology in 2000, followed in 2010 by a Master’s Degree, also in Psychology, also from the OU. He received a Certificate in Leadership from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in 2005 and in September 2013 he commenced studying for a Psychology Research Doctorate at the University of Ulster.

Away from his busy working life, John, nicknamed Digger, was renowned for his long involvement with Bangor Rugby Club, playing from the late 1970s as a tight head prop at all levels, while in more recent times he coached seniors, ladies and youth teams. He also served as president during the 2015/16 season. Always cool, calm and collected, John is remembered fondly by all at the club.

His interest in rugby dated back to schooldays. He was a member of the BGS 1st XV which, as trophy holders, lost narrowly to Methodist College in the 1979 Schools’ Cup final.

John served as an Assistant Scout Leader for 1st Omagh from 1998 until 2005 and was also a member of the Board of Governors of Priory Integrated College, Holywood (2004).

He passed away at the Marie Curie Hospice in Belfast. A year earlier, in August 2016, John made a searingly honest online appeal for the immunotherapy drug he was taking, Nivolumab, to be given NHS approval by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE).

Explaining how his body had become resistant to a previous treatment, he wrote: “I’m worried. I’m facing a real First World dilemma, one that has the potential to lead to my death. Three years of a cycle of upset stomach, high blood pressure, effects on my hands and feet that made it difficult to walk, nausea and fatigue. This new drug not only stopped my cancer but is shrinking it. My tumours have very noticeably abated and I can breathe properly for the first time since Christmas. My broken bones are healing and everyone says I’m a new man. I feel it!

“I’m dedicating the rest of my life to helping others through counselling, I hoped it would be a long and fulfilling life but that is up to NICE. The committee must understand how important it is for me, and the many others suffering my fate, that they approve this fantastic drug.” (There is now limited NHS availability of Nivolumab while further evidence is being gathered on its use).

John, whose late father Bill was a popular member of staff at Bangor Grammar School, holding the positions of Head of Chemistry and Senior Master at the time of his retirement in 1994, is survived by his wife Sharon, children Amy-Jane and Ethan, step-children Sarah, Richard, Sophie and Alexander, also brother Simon, sister Alison and the wider family circle.

Terence Bowman