Mr. David Noble Sheridan

Noble was born on May 26, 1925 to George Robert and Harriet Sheridan. He spent his formative years on the small family farm in Aghnacor townland, Killeshandra, Co. Cavan. He was the third of five children, with an older sister and brother and two younger sisters. The family attended Derrylane Church of Ireland and Noble went to Derrylane school, leaving at age 14.

On leaving school, he worked on several farms in Co. Cavan, while continuing to live at home. In the early 1940s he worked on a farm in Kinawley, Co. Fermanagh.

Noble joined the army in 1944, enlisting with the 1st battalion of the Inniskilling Fusiliers.

After basic training he sailed on a troop ship to India, landing on his 20th birthday, May 26, 1945, a few days after VE Day. Once in India his battalion were preparing to go to the front line in Burma to join the fight against the Japanese, but the war in Asia ended after two atomic bombs were dropped on Japanese cities.

He spent the next few years in India during partition, trying to keep the peace. After India, the battalion went to Hong Kong. Noble left the army in the late 1940s, working in Birmingham, England, for a short period.

In 1950, Noble’s parents sold the family farm and, deciding not to take it over, he moved with them to Enniskillen, living initially near Ballinamallard. He moved to Enniskillen following his marriage to Muriel Venton, a girl from the same area of Cavan, in 1951.

For the next 40 years he worked for Taylor Woods, who made nylon stockings, and Kent Plastics who made car badges. Officially, Noble retired in 1990, but he continued in active employment for the next 10 years. He worked for Ivan Kee, and then at Kenny’s chip shop. He also helped at many auctions alongside auctioneer Keith Elliott, of The Carpet Shop.

All through his working life, and after, Noble did odd jobs for various people, including cutting the hedges and grass at the Cathedral. After the Remembrance Day bombing in Enniskillen, November 1987, he received a citation for the assistance he gave to the injured.

Noble enjoyed playing badminton when he lived in Co. Cavan, and was a member of the Taylor Woods darts team which won several local competitions. He was a bell ringer at the Cathedral for 40 years.

He also enjoyed growing vegetables and walking his dogs (Captain and Lassie). His favourite breed was the Border Collie. He acted as a steward for the cattle judging at Fermanagh County Show, and he was heavily involved in collecting for Cancer Research NI.

He had a lifelong interest in farming, and spent many Saturdays helping on the farms of his brother in law, Albert Dane, and friend, Tommy Dane (no relation).

In retirement, Noble enjoyed watching sport on the television, especially football and snooker, and quiz programmes such as Pointless, Eggheads and University Challenge.

He enjoyed regular visits from his children, David and Joy, and six grandchildren – in age order, Mark, Philip, Rebecca, Kathryn, Gillian and Stacey.

Noble and Muriel celebrated their Diamond wedding anniversary with family and friends on April 30, 2011, receiving a card from the Queen.

There was a large attendance at his funeral service in St. Macartin’s Cathedral. The service was conducted by the Rev. Olie Downey and the hymns were “Onward Christian Soldiers”, “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus” and “Safe in the Arms of Jesus”. The solo, “Amazing Grace,” was beautifully sung by Jayne Haslett.

The New Testament reading from Revelations chapter 21 was read by his son David, Psalm 23 was read by his granddaughter, Kathryn, and his daughter Joy read a poem entitled “He is Gone.”

Noble is survived by his son David, daughter Joy, daughter in law Jane, and son in law Pete. Also grandchildren Mark and fiancée Helen, Philip and wife Jenna, Rebecca, Kathryn, Gillian and Stacey.

Noble was predeceased by his wife Muriel (nee Venton) sisters Greta (Mrs. Dane), Mabel (Mrs. Gowan) and Jenny and his brother Bobby.