UTV veteran journalist Ken Reid’s funeral details confirmed as family say outpouring of tributes ‘great source of comfort’

It was introduced on Wednesday that the 69-year-old handed away in hospital after an extended sickness.

A mainstay of tv screens in Northern Eire for a number of a long time, he had retired from UTV in 2021 after 27 years with the broadcaster.

In 2017, he revealed he had been recognized with a type of leukaemia.

His funeral will happen at St Patrick’s Parish Church, on Fortress Road in Ballymena, on Thursday 28 November at 11am with a personal cremation afterwards, based on a discover on Funeral Occasions.

The journalist is described because the “a lot beloved husband of Liz, loving father of Gareth, Sarah and Sophie, father-in-law of Keith and devoted granda of Summer season and Hugo, pricey brother of Lynn and brother-in-law of Stephen”.

The First and deputy First Ministers led the massive outpouring of tributes and recollections yesterday from throughout the political spectrum, in addition to from colleagues previous and current, following the information of his demise.

Mr Reid began his journalism profession on the Information Letter, the place he served as sports activities editor, and he later was the editor of the Sunday Information, from 1984 to 1987.

He joined the Cork Examiner from 1987 to 1994 earlier than becoming a member of UTV the place, as political editor, he coated a few of Northern Eire’s largest moments, together with the 1998 Belfast Settlement.

In 2017, Mr Reid was recognized with a type of leukaemia “virtually accidentally” after going for a check-up with a podiatrist a couple of foot an infection.

Following his prognosis, he campaigned for blood charity Leukaemia & Lymphoma NI, turning into a patron for the group in 2023.

A press release posted on X on Thursday learn: “The Reid household wish to thank everybody for the stunning tributes and sort phrases

“They’ve been an amazing supply to consolation.”

Yesterday, First Minister Michelle O’Neill recalled a “true large in native journalism” whereas deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly stated he was “a well-known face to so many generations”.