An active, highly regarded member of the Fermanagh community, Mr. Alan Cecil, late of Carry House, Lisbellaw passed away peacefully on January 13, 2015.

His death, after a short illness, took place at South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen.

The popular figure, who had recently marked his 76th birthday, had been a well-known face in the county’s business world, and ran the former Fermanagh Creameries.

A native of Essex, Alan, a son of Dorie and Charles, was born on December 11, 1938, at Ilford and he was educated at Primary School at Ilfracombe, North Devon, and Bromley Boys’ Grammar School. He completed National Service with the RAF, specialising in meteorology, and served in the Persian Gulf.

He returned to London in 1962 and applied to the Provident Mutual Life Assurance Society in the City of London to do actuarial work and it was there he met Jenny. They married on March 6, 1965 in thick snow, in South Ruislip, Middlesex.

Management consultancy work took Alan to Northern Ireland in April 1968 and the Cecils moved to Lisburn.

Stephen was born in 1968, and twin daughters Catherine and Joanne were born in 1971.

In 1974, the family returned to Sussex, in the South of England, close to Jenny’s sisters and parents, and Alan worked with a Local Authority in Lewes. He was seconded to the British Council and spent three months in Indonesia, writing to the family on a daily basis.

In 1978, Alan was asked to return to Northern Ireland to work with Unipork and the Cecils moved to Enniskillen. Alan was responsible for the building of the new Cookstown Bacon Factory.

He moved to run Fermanagh Creameries in Lisnaskea until its closure. He was immensely proud of the factory and of all the people who worked with him. He was very supportive of his colleagues.

During his career, Alan became actively involved in many organisations. He served as Chairman of the Board of Governors for Fermanagh College for many years, having taken over from the late Mr. Albert Broomhead, and for many years he did Industrial Tribunal work.

For a considerable time, he was a Governance Board Member for the Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke Association, and he was a member of the NI Coronary Prevention Group.

He served on a NI Research Ethics Committee for over 10 years.

Alan was a Trustee and past Secretary, Commodore and Admiral of the Lough Erne Yacht Club, and the Cecils sailed as a family. A Mirror Dinghy was built from kit by Alan.

He was an enthusiastic member of the National Trust since 1965, an interest he shared with Jenny.

He was an Enniskillen Rotarian, and served as the President of the Enniskillen Rotary Club in 2010.

He was a Masonic member, Investment Club member and Probus member.

For over 30 years, he was Honorary Treasurer for the Hospital Ball, and he had also been a member of the Wine Circle for 30 years.

In the run up to Christmas, he attended the Christmas lunches of a number of the organisations he was involved in.

Alan and Jenny made their home on the land, which he loved, on Innishmore, 18 years ago.

He excelled and enjoyed all aspects of DIY, and he was a talented joiner, plumber, gardener, boat builder, mathematician, strategic planner and organiser!

A very fit man, he enjoyed being a busy, active figure and there are many projects which are testament to his work. He had a way with words and he was a talented writer.

The friendships, he had made, were very important to Alan, who was a kind, thoughtful, generous man; he looked only for the best in people, and he was always interested in everyone. A true gentleman, he loved Jenny and told her this every day, and he loved his family. He loved Fermanagh and he made the county his home.

A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Alan Charles Cecil was held on Sunday, January 18 at St. Macartin’s Cathedral, Enniskillen. The widely attended service, reflecting Alan’s popularity, was conducted by the Dean, the Very Rev. Kenneth R.J. Hall.

The hymns were ‘The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, is Ended’ and ‘Be Thou My Vision, O Lord of my heart’.

Cremation took place in Roselawn Crematorium, Belfast. Donations in lieu of flowers are being directed to Coronary Care and Critical Care, South West Acute Hospital, c/o S.R. Elliott and Sons, Funeral Directors, Darling Street, Enniskillen.

Alan is survived by his wife Jenny, son Stephen, and daughters Catherine and Joanne. He leaves his daughter-in-law Isabella, son-in-law David, and his grandchildren Jack, Angelina, Finn, Katie and James, the wider family circle and his many friends.

The funeral arrangements were by S.R. Elliott and Sons, Darling Street, Enniskillen.