A long established, popular Dromore businessman, Mr. Fredrick Alfred (Fred) Kenwell, who is fondly remembered as an absolute gentleman, has died.

The much loved family man’s peaceful passing on July 13, 2016, aged 65, took place at his residence, Main Street, Dromore, Co. Tyrone, and has been met with much sadness across the community and beyond.

A native of Dromore, Co. Tyrone, Fred’s education was attained at his local primary school and Omagh High School. He took over the family business from his father Alfred Kenwell, when he was 25 years old. It was the same year that he married the former Evelyn Keys.

He ran the business for 40 years and he and his wife Evelyn, the devoted parents of Julie, Elaine, Pamela, David and Linda, marked a special milestone three weeks ago - their 40th wedding anniversary.

In another significant milestone, the family concern, A.E. Kenwell and sons, General Merchants, Dromore, will be 100 years old this year.

His farming interests were also important to Fred, who ran a large dairy, beef and sheep farm, regarding it as his hobby.

Aside from his business and farming, family time was precious to Fred, who was first and foremost a family man and was proud to see the family growing with the arrival of all his grandchildren. He would have loved to have had the chance to take them all out on the farm and on the tractor, especially at this time of year.

On a family occasion, Fred always had his trusty video camera in hand, documenting it all.

He was a keen water skier on Lough Erne, an interest shared by his family. At the age of 60 he learned to snow ski - having skied in Austria and also in Switzerland.

Battling his illness for 19 months, Fred was determined to beat it. He always remarked that he had so much to live for. He never once complained and any time people asked how he was he always gave the same reply: ‘I’m the best’.

His funeral at Holy Trinity Parish Church, Dromore, was huge, attended by well over 1,000 mourners. The family shook hands for three hours, a testament to how much loved and well respected Fred was. Clergy from both sides of the community took part in the service. Canon Mark Watson conducted the service and Fr. McAtee read a portion of scripture during the service. A choir led the praise.

Among those in attendance at the funeral was Tom Elliott, MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone along with Fred’s life long friend, Bert Wilson, a UUP Councillor, as well as a number of MLAs and other local councillors.

Businessmen came from across Northern Ireland, including Fermanagh and Tyrone, the Republic of Ireland, and from across the United Kingdom. 

Such was the respect felt for Fred that the Kenwell business’s facebook pages received 60,000 interactions and hundreds of comments. An absolute gentleman and proud businessman were among the words of praise for Fred, who has also been widely described as a very honourable man in business.

The dearly loved husband, devoted father, much loved granddad, and dear brother, whose death is deeply regretted by the entire family circle, is survived by his wife Evelyn, his children: Julie, Elaine, Pamela, David and Linda; his sons in law and daughter in law, Dave, Warren, Darren and Julie; and his grandchildren: Theo, Alfie, James, Lynnea, Freddie and Jack. He leaves his sister Isobel and brother Charles, having been predeceased by his sister June.

Donations in lieu are being directed to Holy Trinity Parish Church and the Neurology Unit, Royal Victoria Hospital, c/o R.G. Adams and Son, Main Street, Dromore, who looked after the funeral arrangements.