Work never stops at the Cherry Tree bakery in Lisnaskea.
It has been that way for 47 years and, as a result, the Charles family has created “a very successful business.”

Standing in the vast kitchen at the back of the Main Street property, one can witness two generations of the Charles family in action: mother Isobel – who founded the business with her husband Norman in 1969 – is emptying rubbish into a skip while her sons Glenn and Ashley whip up an array of mouth-watering breads, buns and cheesecakes ahead of another busy weekend.
“It was all work, work, work,” recalls Isobel, who moved to Fermanagh from Cookstown when her husband secured a job as a farm manager on Killyreagh Estate, Tamlaght. 

She had baked part-time for a shop in Lisbellaw but the demand grew to such an extent that her husband decided to buy her a premises where she could open her own bakery. 
“He thought it would be a wee hobby for me,” Isobel laughs.
After putting her children to bed at night, Isobel would return to the kitchen until 2am, before rising again at 6am. 
Her work ethic has rubbed off on her sons, who sometimes have to be told to go home.

“It was just part of your life and you never knew anything else. I did get enjoyment out of it. It was something I had always wanted to do,” said Isobel. 
Ashley Charles added: “If you didn’t get enjoyment out of it, you wouldn’t do it. You have to love what you do.”
His earliest memories include running outside to play but being called in to wash shelves and watching his late father talk to passers-by for hours on end as he swept the front steps of the business.
“We have created this business as a family and we are passionate about keeping it alive,” stated Isobel.

As the decades rolled by, The Cherry Tree witnessed many changes, not least structurally.
The Charles family lived in the premises on Main Street Lisnaskea until 1985. 
They recall a friendly community of other families, traders and Doctor Nora Casey, who all lived in the same vicinity.
In 1987, what used to be the family living room, where they would gather to watch Starsky and Hutch and eat beef curry on a Saturday evening, was transformed into a coffee shop. 
However, the trend of going for coffee only really took off at the turn of the 21st century. 

That area was boarded up for the past thirty years but has recently been reinvented as a seating area. 
In addition, buildings purchased before the recession have now been transformed into a large kitchen area.
These developments required “a significant investment” and suffered a set-back when the recession hit in 2008.
“Before the recession, we had bought these premises in order to create what we have here today,” explained Glenn.“We had planning permission granted in 2009 but it has taken us eight years to get to where we are now. We had to sit our plans, save up and pay off for what we bought in order to realise our ambitions.”
Asked to outline their toughest business challenge to date, Glenn replied: “Banks.”

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He said: “The banks are a different animal now to what they were before the recession. The property we bought used to be two houses. When we bought the first one the bank actively said: ‘I think you should buy the next one’.”

Ashley added: “They will give you an umbrella when the sun is shining but will take it away when it rains.”
Eating trends have changed too, the brothers point out. 
Going for coffee is hugely popular and gluten free choices are now expected by the customer.
“If you don’t keep up you get left behind,” said Glenn, adding: “People are a lot more cosmopolitan. Your customer demands what they have seen on holidays. People’s eating habits have changed. Bread has got a bit of a bum wrap. It’s getting a bad press. It’s all about gluten free these days.”

He recognises that “you have to be with where people are going”, but believes that trends will come full circle at some point. “I firmly believe that the simple bread that was made years ago that we still have a great affinity with – soda bread etc – It can’t be that bad for you,” he said.
Following their expansion, the plan for the moment is to “consolidate.”
As he whips the cream, Ashley continued: “I am trying to train a few members of staff which would leave me with time to spend on the business rather than in the business.”
The brothers have also decided to cut back on the wholesale side of the business that has been in place for the past 25 years. They now supply 28 premises, rather than 48.

Glenn explained the decision, saying: “Wholesaling is better for big companies that have machines that can replicate their products for large scale distribution. Our biggest strength is also our biggest liability i.e. the range of products we create.”
The brothers “don’t fear Brexit” but acknowledge that “the border may possibly be a hindrance.”
Ashley hopes to see an end to “annoying EU red tape.” 
Glenn added: “We don’t know what the opportunities might be but we will play to our strengths.”
Tourism in the Upper Lough Erne region is another passion the brothers share. They are very disappointed that, despite efforts by local tourism officials, money could not be found to retain the Lisnaskea tourist information office. They hold the key to that building and enjoy meeting the tourists who want access to pamphlets or guidebooks from the building.
“Tourism is our life blood, tourism is the way forward,” stated Glenn.
“There’s not enough investment in tourism in this part of Fermanagh. We need more ideas,” added Ashley, who loves to chat about the family histories of visiting Americans who are tracing their roots.
Looking ahead, the brothers do not know what the future holds.
Would they consider selling? “I don’t know what will happen in the future. I possibly don’t want to work until I’m in the ground,” Ashley replied, adding that before making a decision he asks himself: “What would father do?”

For now, he will continue to arrive at 6am and leave at 7pm (sometimes later) because he has “an emotional attachment” to the family business that he entered when he was 16.
Each staff member has a slogan stitched onto their Cherry Tree t-shirt. One of them reads: “A baker doesn’t retire. He just goes off.”