Lord Erne makes his final journey as he is laid to rest at Crom

There were touching scenes at Crom on Wednesday as the coffin of Lord Erne was placed on board his family’s 100 year old cot and carried across the lough to Holy Trinity Church for his funeral service, accompanied by his grieving family.

The 78-year-old’s coffin rested on Fir branches cut from the estate and as it made its way to the church the rain that had pelted down all morning stopped and a flicker of sunlight shone through the clouds.

Mourners including the Duke and Duchess of Abercorn, Lord and Lady Brookeborough, Lady Lichfield and First Minister elect Arlene Foster joined Lord Erne's grieving family as a flag flew at half mast above the home.

It was poignant that the private ceremony should be held at the place he adored his entire life and the ancestral home of the Crichton’s for more than 400 years. The service also included the moving words of Seamus Heaney, with a Lough Erne perspective, read by family members, which encapsulated the aristocrat's affection for the surrounding area.

“Stand on a hill in South Fermanagh and the winding banks of Erne are all about you. It looks as if the whole county could be floating on water. The farmland is green and soft as grass on a drain. The marshland is a mat of roots and rushes spread on brown water. And there at our feet is Lough Erne, girdling and glinting between the islands: and there are the islands, scattered like green moss on a mirror.

“Summer of winter, calm or storm, fair weather or frosty weather, the islands lodge in the lap of the lough. The child crosses water to be baptised, the bridge in her wedding dress sails out to her wedding, the corpse crosses water to be buried... Here you have a flirtation between light and shadow, between land and sky, between earth and heaven.”

Viscount Crichton told The Impartial Reporter that he and his sisters Lady Cleone Versen, Lady Davina Crichton, Lady Katherine Townsend-Rose, Lady Tara Loyd, have been left “deeply saddened” by the death of their “beloved father”.

As the only boy in a family of five children, John now inherits the castle and becomes the seventh Earl of Erne.

“He was a wonderful man who cared deeply about Crom, Fermanagh, and particularly its people. He absolutely adored this place, he loved it deeply, and worked very hard to keep the estate and the castle together. Crom was his life, and it is a huge honour to take over his legacy. We will all miss him very, very deeply,” he said.

Paying tribute to his father, Viscount Crichton added: “He was not only my father but my best friend. He would advise me and I looked to him for advice and wisdom. I will miss that hugely, but he did go knowing that I was back to look after Crom Castle which gave him huge comfort.”

He said his father preferred spending his time talking to people in Lisnaskea “than anything else” not to mention the many charities and organisations that he took great interest in, including the Red Cross, Share Centre and the Royal British Legion.

In the wake of Lord Erne’s death last Wednesday people have been leaving tributes on Facebook.

Selwyn Johnston of Headhunters Barber Shop and Railway Museum said Lord Erne was “always supportive and a source of encouragement for local community and charitable organisations.”

“He was generous with his time, opened his home to host events such as the 70th Anniversary of D-Day and took an interest in everything Fermanagh related. The county is proud to have had such a distinguished ambassador as Lord Erne and his passing leaves a huge void within the community which will never be filled.”

Bob Lyons said he had known him for 40 years and described him as “one of life’s true gentlemen.”

Teacher Carol Elliott said: “He came to visit us in Ballinamallard primary school some years ago and enjoyed working with my class.”

Lisnaskea businesswoman Alma Kinnear said: “He will be greatly missed in the community.”

Rosemary Forde, Upper Lough Erne Tourism Group, said: “Lord Erne showed graciousness and encouragement for local community initiatives.”

Sinead McCabe Crudden said: “We received the warmest welcome from Lord Erne as we held Fermanagh Fleadh in Crom this year.”

Felicity Humphreys, the principal of Moat Primary School, said: “Lord Erne was a delight to have known. His interest in the children and their creative writing was immense. He enjoyed reading through the pupils’ stories for the annual Harry Erne Booker Prize searching for the most creative and imaginative piece of writing. It will be hard to imagine Crom without his presence.”

Ulster Unionist MP Tom Elliott said: “Fermanagh has lost an honourable citizen and true friend.”

Lord Erne’s family has royal connections as his father was equerry to King George VI. King George VI was also Lord Erne’s godfather. Lord Erne himself was the longest serving Lord Lieutenant for The Queen, stepping down in 2012, and was page boy at her Coronation when he was 15 years old.

A spokesman for Buckingham Palace told this newspaper that Her Majesty was informed of Lord Erne’s death and is expected to send a private message to his family.

The Queen and Prince Phillip attended a lunch at Crom Castle during a visit to Enniskillen in 2012 as Lord Erne prepared to carry out his final duty as Lord Lieutenant. Earlier that year he was made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in recognition of his work, an award made directly by The Queen which he said at the time left him feeling “honoured and humbled.”

During his 25 years as Lord Lieutenant, he officially welcomed royalty to the county, in particular the Queen’s visit to Ballinamallard, the Queen Mother’s visit to re-open Castle Coole, the visit by Prince Charles and Princess Diana and then Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall as well as welcoming the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese. He also took part in the annual Remembrance ceremony in Enniskillen and of course the Enniskillen bomb of 1987 was only his second year in his ceremonial role at the Cenotaph.

Lord Erne’s beloved Crom Castle was used as the location for the popular BBC series Blandings two years ago and was once one of the grandest privately owned castles in Ireland, playing host to lords, ladies and royalty. Born in 1937, he inherited the estate when he was just two years old after his father was killed in the Second World War. He moved to Crom when he turned 21.

Speaking about living at Crom, Lord Erne once said: “I came here to live in 1958 when I came of age to find a castle completely empty with no electricity or any central heating and rather modest acres. I mean I spent a lifetime looking after this place and I love it like I can’t describe how much I love it.”

Lord Erne’s family say they are “extremely thankful” for the messages of support and say a memorial service will take place at St. Macartin’s Cathedral in Enniskillen in the Spring of 2016.