Last week’s Looking Back column, 50 years ago (May 18, 1964) featured a visit to the Clogher Valley by the Premier. Among photographs featured in The Impartial Reporter that week was one of a Clogher Family. The photo caption was as follows: Dr. J.R, Martin, of Clogher (on left) introduces the Premier to Mr. and Mrs. Ward Haslett, when he visited the sawmills of Haslett & Co. at Carryclogher, during his Clogher Valley tour on Friday. In the centre, Mr. Jim Malley, the Prime Minister’s secretary, and a Clogher Valley man, has a word with five-year-old Barbara Haslett.

25 YEARS AGO - June 1, 1989: New chairman - The new Fermanagh Council meets for the first time next Monday afternoon at Enniskillen Townhall. Their first task is to elect a chairman and vice-chairman for the forthcoming year. There are five new members on the Council who will be attending meetings for the first time. Following the recent election, the Unionist groups have 12 seats, an overall majority of one.

Bawnacre’s anniversary - The Bawnacre Centre in Irvinestown is celebrating its fifth anniversary today. Since it opened on June 1, 1984, the centre’s range of activities has attracted an increasing number of people. In the 12 months to March this year, 141,000 people used the Bawnacre. And to mark their fifth birthday, the centre has arranged a number of special events.

Tributes - Fermanagh’s resident magistrate, Mr. Gerary M’Canny, has retired and will no longer preside over the county’s petty sessions, juvenile hearings and domestic proceedings. At his last sitting in Enniskillen Courthouse, Mr. M’Canny received a number of tributes. Mr. Frank McManus, as senior member of the Fermanagh Bar, wished Mr. M’Canny a very happy retirement and added that it had been very pleasant to be in his courts.

Rowers celebrate birthday - Three rowers from the Portora and Coleraine Institute Boat Clubs in 1929 returned to Lough Erne at the weekend to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the unique series of races between the schools for the Wray Cup. The three, Dr. D.B. McNeill and Will Alexander from Portora and Tom McClenaghan, from Coleraine Inst, were special guests at an anniversary luncheon before the 60th rowing of the race. In July 1929 the first race for the Wray Cup was rowed between the two schools on the Narrows at Portora.

Grand Old Lady - MAP - There was a jolly time in the Tippler’s Inn at Arney on Bank Holiday Monday evening when Fermanagh’s grand old lady, Margaret Rankin, from Florencecourt was celebrating her 103rd birthday in fine style, eyes sparkling. A hundred or more came for the celebrations organised by the Arney and district community centre.

Reception at Castle - MAP - During the visit of H.R.H. the Duchess of Kent to Hillsborough, the Fermanagh representative at the reception was Doris Thornton, who was there on behalf of the local branch of the Arthritis and Rheumatism Council for Research. Mrs. Thornton has been treasurer of the branch for the past ten years.

50 YEARS AGO - May 29, 1964: Speech Day At Portora - Bishop tells boys “be true” - “Have a few dreams for the future.” This was the advice given to the boys of Portora Royal School by the Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh, Rt. Rev. Edward F. Moore, after he had distributed the prizes at the School’s Speech Day on Friday. “I like dreams,” the Bishop said. “Dreams are wider than ambitions that sometimes are only a tight little programme of self-seeking. Dream about your future. You have only one life and one shot at it, so get right at the centre of the target!” 100 Years Old - Border “Black” Men Celebrate in Style - The centenary of Loughkillygreen Royal Black Preceptory No. 204 was celebrated with a supper in Loughkillygreen Orange Hall, near Newtownbutler, on Friday evening. It was a big event in the life of the people of the community and preparations for the celebrations marking the first 100 years in the life of the Preceptory have been in progress for a considerable time.

Freedom of the Borough Conferred - Yesterday (Wednesday) was a memorable day for Enniskillen, for Lieutenant-General Sir Ian Harris paid a visit to the town and as Colonel of the Royal Irish Rangers, Ulster’s new Regiment, received the Honorary Freedom of the Borough on the Regiment’s behalf. The Mayor of Enniskillen (Alderman Richard Barton) conferring the Freedom on the Rangers, said it was a source of satisfaction that the name “Inniskilling” was preserved in the sub-title of the Rangers.

Personal - Miss Margaret McCrossan, Darling Street, Enniskillen, Fermanagh Dairy Princess, accompanied the Ulster Dairy Queen and other dairy princesses to the Royal Ulster Agricultural Show at Balmoral at the weekend.

C.E. Union - Annual Rally in Enniskillen - “A town filled with lovely leprachauns,” was how Enniskillen was described by Rev. Rupert Gibson, vice-President of the World Christian Endeavour Union in the Scots Church, Enniskillen, on Friday evening. Mr. Ronnie Chambers was installed as President of the Union for the coming year by the outgoing President, Mr. W.F. Nixon, Blacklion.

The Boat Rally 1969 - The Erne Boat Rally grows in popularity. This year the Enniskillen Branch of the Inland Waterways Association was host - the privilege is alternated annually with Belturbet Branch. The water-borne fleet ranged the length of the Upper and Lower Loughs from Belturbet to Belleek this year for the first time, and was climaxed by a dinner and prize-giving at Enniskillen.

75 YEARS AGO - June 1, 1939: The Marble Arch - New Caverns Found - A party of twelve, members of the famous Yorkshire Ramblers’ Club, whose past-time and hobby is mountaineering and exploring great caverns, visited once again the Marble Arch, situated in Lord Enniskillen’s demesne, near Florencecourt, Enniskillen, during the past week-end. With the party were Mr. C. Chubb, President of the Club, and Mr. E.E. Roberts, Editor of the ‘Yorkshire Ramblers’ Journal’. Included in the party were some of those who recently descended 600 feet down a cavern in Yorkshire and rescued the dead body of an explorer who met with a fatal accident and was accompanied by a young girl of 16 who fortunately was saved, although cut off by flood waters. These Yorkshire Ramblers have discovered many caverns and underground rivers at the Marble Arch hitherto unknown. The work they perform is only one which experts could attempt.

Find in a bog - Mr. Albert Ryan, Lisnaskea, unearthed about 15 stone weight of butter, which was wrapped in pig-skin and a wooden container, in a bog at Newtownbutler. The container is badly damaged, but the pig-skin and butter are in a good state of preservation.

Things in General - Busy Enniskillen - It cannot be said that Enniskillen is a dull place. Yesterday (Wednesday) we had a visit from His Grace the Governor of Northern Irelnd to open our new Legion Hall; there was a hymn festival in the Cathedral; there was a tennis tournament, and last, but by no means least - perhaps the most important in the eyes of of the people - an election of County Councillor for the Urban District of Enniskillen.

Enniskillen Optician in U.S.A. - Mr. W. Moore, F.B.O.A., F.I.O., of Enniskillen, has now returned from his visit to the United States of America and Canada, where he investigated the optical situation in those countries. His visits to leading optical establishments there, have confirmed his opinion formed after his recent visits to Germany and other European countries, that the qualified optician in Great Britain and Ireland, can more than hold his own anywhere in the world.

Derrygonnelly Methodism - Thursday next will be a proud day in the history of Methodism in the Derrygonnelly district when the centenary of the local church will be celebrated and a new vestry formally opened by Miss Breen, Derryvary, the senior member of the congregation. Rev. Edward Whittaker will be the special speaker.