The Impartial Reporter, March 25, 1965 - Fermanagh Ploughing Society’s Annual Contest. All set for a spin on one of the new tractors at the Ploughing Match (50 years ago) are a group of youngsters (from left) - Derek Edgar, George Elliott, Tullyrain; and David and William Wilson, of Girgadis.

25 YEARS AGO - March 22, 1990: St. Patrick’s Day parades take place throughout the country - St. Patrick’s Day may have been windy, but the rain stayed away for the parade through Enniskillen. About 300 people, including scouts, leaders, cubs and beavers, as well as girl guides and their leaders took part in the parade which formed at St. Michael’s Community Centre before making its way through the town for 12.30pm Mass at St. Michael’s Church. The parade was led by St. Michael’s Scout Band and St. Naile’s Accordion Band from Kinawley. At the same time similar parades were taking place in towns and villages throughout Fermanagh. At the Mass in Enniskillen the Rev. Martin Traynor blessed the Shamrock which was then presented to the scout and guide leaders.

Tough 15-mile walk for St. Patrick’s Day - 1st Inniskilling (St. Macartin) held their 6th Annual Sponsored Walk this year on St. Patrick’s Day. They set out at 9.30 a.m. on the Knockmore Road at the end of the Big Dog Trail and were off on the Ulster Way with Cladagh Bridge (via the top of Belmore Mt.) as their objective. A record number of 30 commenced the walk in dry cool conditions.

Double celebration for Temple’s award-winning performance - The Temple Players travelled from Dublin to present the French farce, “A Flea in Her Ear,” at Enniskillen Theatre Festival and retained the Fermanagh District Council Trophy as overall winners. The Temple Players now become the fourth drama group to win the blue riband award for the second time in the Festival’s 10-year history. Previous double winners were Headford Drama Group from Galway; Olivian Players from Dublin and Bangor Drama Club. The Dublin group’s performance of Georges Feydeau’s hilarious farce was so popular that it was winner with both the adjudicator, Betty Ann Norton and the audience.

Memories of life as a district nurse - Late calls on wintry nights are among the memories of Clogher’s district nurse, Mrs. Betty Orr, who has retired after a lifetime devoted to nursing and caring for people all over the valley. Mrs. Orr, who enjoys gardening at her home, Waterside House, at Tulnavert, a few miles from Clogher, was honoured at the annual dinner of Fivemiletown Chamber of Commerce in the Valley Hotel last week. During the evening the President, Mr. Sean Murphy, paid tribute to Mrs. Orr’s service to the community.

50 YEARS AGO - March 18, 1965: Fermanagh Girl Guides - A successful coffee party in the morning, attended by the County President, Lady Robert Grosvenor, and a county fair in the afternoon, were held on the 13th inst., by the Fermanagh Guides, in the Cathedral Hall, Enniskillen, in aid of the Guide Cottage Fund. Eight Companies - Tempo, 1st Enniskillen, 2nd Enniskillen, Kesh, Florencecourt, Lack, Lisbellaw, and Lisnaskea, contributed stalls to the the fair, which was the culminating effort in a competition between the companies to raise the most money by the 13th March, to renovate the Guide Cottage. From Antipodes to Clogher - Two Clogher families - McKennas of Kilrudden and Boyds of Cavanakirk - will play host to two young farmers from overseas for 10 days this Summer. Miss Rhonda McLaren Neuke, a home science teacher from Western Australia, will be staying at Cavanakirk and Mr. Donald Henry Johnston will leave his father’s wheat and wool production and canning firm in Tasmania to pay a visit to Kilrudden.

Inniskillings Parade Bristol - The band, drums and pipes of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers were one of the attractions of Ulster week in Bristol, which opened on Monday.

Lipton to Open Magnificent Supermarket - The opening of this Supermarket announces the return after an absence of two years of Lipton to Enniskillen. Everyone will remember their previous shop and will welcome this new store, which has everything to make your shopping a pleasure. Whilst they proudly acknowledge their link with the past, they have a reputation in the trade of being progressive and alive to the trend and needs of modern-day shopping.

Manager of the New Store - From message boy to manager of a large modern supermarket. That’s the success story of Mr. David Watson, who, at 41, is the manager of Lipton’s new Enniskillen supermarket. An Enniskillener, born and bred - his widowed mother, Mrs. Margaret Watson, still resides in Castlecoole Road - Mr. Watson began his working life as message boy in Lipton’s shop in Church Street, Enniskillen, at the age of 14, after leaving Enniskillen Model School. Now he returns after an absence of over a quarter of a century.

Assistant Manager - Enniskillen shoppers and visitors from the country will be delighted to see in Lipton’s supermarket the pleasant face of Mr. Jim Bartley, who has been appointed assistant manager.

75 YEARS AGO - March 21, 1940: Portora Wins Schools’ Cup - A Thrilling Victory - Crash tackling, clever combination, and one of the best packs seen in the final for years, gave Portora Royal School a 6 points to 3 victory over Coleraine Academical Institution in the Ulster Schools’ Rugby Cup final at Ravenhill, Belfast, on Saturday. For this cup all secondary schools compete. This is the first time for the cup to come to Portora for the past 31 years. The school won it on four former occasions. The match was as dramatic, as it was thrilling, the winning try coming during extra time to give Portora custody of the trophy.

MAP and Things in General - Enniskillen had a great thrill on Saturday evening when the news spread quickly that Portora had won the Ulster Schools’ Cup. The thrill was all the greater because the odds were heavy against Portora. Indeed, one could easily have got ten to one or fifty to one against Portora, because the Cup holders were hot favourites.

The Modest Doctor - MAP - ‘I never made a speech in my life,’ said Dr. Leonard Kidd, unblushingly, to enthusiastic Portorans on Monday evening, when called upon for a speech after they had received the victorious team on Portora terrace. The school, he stated, had already won the cup four times - (in 65 years) - and as one who had almost half a century of service at the school he complimented them. The Doctor might have added that he himself was an old international rugby forward, but he is one man who never blows his own trumpet. So others, like myself, have to do it for him.

Ballinamallard Presentation - Taught for over 40 years - A remarkable tribute was paid to two teachers in Ballinamallard when a presentation was made to Mr. and Mrs. George Coalter on the occasion of their retirement after long service in Ballinamallard (Methodist) P.E. School. Mr. Coalter, who is a well-known local preacher, had taught in the old Sydare school in 1897, but two years later, on 1st April, moved in to Ballinamallard and taught there till 31st December last. The presentation took place in the Archdale Memorial Hall, Ballinamallard.

Butter Ration - The butter ration is to be doubled from Easter Monday. From Monday, March 25, housewives will be able to get eight ounces a week instead of four.