Family of Derek Kidd say he will be ‘forever missed’ as they mark 50th anniversary of murder
The family of Derek Kidd have said he will be ‘forever missed’ fifty years after he was shot dead by republican gunmen in Derry.
The Kidd family will be holding a Service of Remembrance, Thanksgiving and Hope on Sunday, November 15 at 4pm in Christ Church, Strabane in Derek’s memory.
Derek's brother Chris, in a statement issued on behalf of the family, said: "Derek was a special brother and he was deeply valued by all within our family. He was reliable, hard-working, and a good sounding board."
Mr. Kidd was born on April 22, 1939, at Tullyard, Strabane, the eldest son of William and Annie Kidd.
After attending John Perry School and Christ Church he worked for J.A. Gamble as an apprentice joiner.
He later worked for J.T. Robinson until he was murdered on November 18, 1976.
The off-duty UDR corporal was shot dead as he left a hut on a Housing Executive site on the Trench Road.
“Derek was still a young man aged only 37 years, and he was in the middle of living life, working hard but also striving to be a good husband and father. Derek was married to Mary (nee Neely) and they had two boys, Richard and Trevor and then to Derek’s delight they welcomed a daughter called Sharon. His children were aged 10 years, 8 years and 5 years when Derek was murdered.
"We received messages of sympathy and practical care and support from people from right across the community, that was reflective of how Derek lived his life, he treated people as he found them. He had his beliefs, he played his part in serving the community through his membership of the UDR CGC, but most importantly he was a fair-minded man and valued his neighbours, his family stated.
South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF) CEO Kenny Donaldson stated: "The Kidd family are an honourable family who are not political in anyway, they are people who are grounded within the community and are highly regarded. The murder of Derek was very difficult for them to process and it forever changed life's direction for them.
"We think of all those relationships impacted; his widow, children, siblings and other family members.
"Derek's life was not for anyone else to extinguish, he had worth and what happened was unjustified and unjustifiable.”