The Looking Back column has received one of its oldest photographs to date. James White Nawn, a native of Lisbellaw (born in 1873) is pictured as the Long Distance Champion of Ireland, 1897 to 1900. It records he ‘raced for Championship of the World. 6 Day Race. New York, San Francisco and Paris.’ James White Nawn, who went out to do medicine in New York, raced there in 1898. The photograph was kindly shared with the Looking Back column by Rosalind McMullen, whose grandfather Fred Nawn, who lived in Lisbellaw, was a brother of James White Nawn. James’s grandson is coming to visit Fermanagh in the near future, and hopefully this column will catch up with him.

25 YEARS AGO - July 19, 1990: Lord Skelmersdale is impressed with centre’s facilities - Killadeas Adult Centre, on the eastern shore of Lower Lough Erne, had a special surprise visitor on Tuesday - Health and Social Services Minister, Lord Skelmersdale. He was welcomed by Mr. Robert Toland, the Chairman of the Western Health and Social Services Board, and Mr. Tom Frawley, the Area General Manager. The Minister, on his first visit to the centre, said he was “very impressed” with it. As well as touring the units within the Adult Training Centre, Lord Skelmersdale was introduced to Barry Goan, Adrian Flanagan and Sue Jenkins, three Olympians representing Ireland at the special Olympics in Strathclyde.

Sunshine boost as curtain raises on premier festival - Brilliant sunshine greeted the opening of this year’s Lady of the Lake festival in Irvinestown. The town’s 12th festival, rated as one of Northern Ireland’s premier carnivals, got off to a tremendous start as the sun set over the north Fermanagh town. The organisers had been praying for sunshine all week and those prayers were answered on Friday afternoon as the finishing touches were being put to the preparations for the official opening. Huge crowds lined the town’s main street for the opening ceremony and to greet the new Lady of the Lake.

Festival Queen - This year’s festival queen is Alison Deane, from “Dallas,” Killadeas. Alison who works in her father’s jewellery shop, Jeweldeane, was unveiled to the waiting crowd by top cabaret artist and television personality Gene Fitzpatrick. There were screams of delight when the onlookers realised who the new “Lady” was.

Brenda shows she has many strings to her bow - A young musician from Irvinestown has just won one of Ireland’s most prestigious fiddling competitions. Seventeen-year-old Brenda McCann, from The Commons, Irvinestown, won the “1990 Fiddler of Dooney” trophy in Sligo on Sunday. As well as the trophy, Brenda won a trip to the United States and £500. The Fiddler of Dooney competition has been held in Sligo for the past 25 years and is an international gathering of traditional fiddle players.

LEDU says ‘goodbye’ to director Pat - The Board of LEDU, The Small Business Agency for Northern Ireland, has just said goodbye to one of its leading figures from County Fermanagh. Mr. Pat McGuinness, a father of seven from Lisnaskea, took retirement at the end of last month, and plans to take life easy.

50 YEARS AGO - July 15, 1963: The Boyne Anniversary - Thousands of Orangemen walked to eighteen demonstrations throughout Northern Ireland on Monday to celebrate the 275th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne.

“Twelfth” in Donegal - The only 12th of July demonstration to take place south of the Border was held at Rossnowlagh, Co. Donegal. Lodges from Ballintra No. 1 District and Donegal No. 2 District which celebrate the “Twelfth” every year at this pretty seaside resort were joined this year by Raphoe No. 3 District (East Donegal) which usually marches with the City of Derry Grand Lodge.

The Procession - Enniskillen - Eighty-six bands and more than one hundred lodges took part in the procession through Enniskillen’s main street to the meeting place on the Rossorry Church Road.

From early morning bands and lodges began arriving from across the Border on their annual “Pilgrimage” to the Fermanagh “Twelfth.” Clogher Valley - The Orange brethren in the Clogher Valley met at Augher on Monday to celebrate in time-honoured fashion the Boyne anniversary. They came from the Orange districts of Anahoe and Fivemiletown.

Winners - At the Omagh Show, the Ernest McIlwaine Cup for the best exhibit in agricultural horse classes was won by S.R. Getty, of Clogher. The cup for the best foal went to Sam Love, of Fintona. In the cattle (Shorthorn) section R.O. Hermon, of Irvinestown won the cup for the best bull, the silver spoon for the best male or female, and the silver medal for the best male or female. The Craig Challenge Cup for the best Aberdeen Angus exhibit; Wm. F.Porter Memorial Cup for best animal bred by resident of Northern Ireland, and the cup for the best pure-bred male or female, and the special prize for the group of three went to John W. Veitch, of Lisbellaw.

Brooke Bond Essay Prize - An essay by M.W. Friel, of Portora Royal School, Enniskillen, has been judged to be the best senior essay entry from County Fermanagh in this year’s National Travel Scholarships. For this entry Brooke Bond have awarded eight National Saving Certificates.

A Triumphal Tour - Fivemiletown High School’s athletic tour in Yorkshire proved a victorious one with the girls’ team beating Settle High School and Harrowgate High School while the boys’ team finished second and Fivemiletown won the match with 171 points. Magdalene Glendinning won the 100 yards in 11.8 seconds, a very creditable time, with Helena Lendrum second in 12.1 seconds.

75 YEARS AGO - July 18, 1940: Roslea Lady for West Africa - Sister Rebecca Forster, S.R.N., and C.H.B., eldest daughter of Mr. W. Forster, a member of Lisnaskea Board of Guardians, Tatanbar, Roslea, has qualified in tropical diseases and has now sailed for British West Africa to take up duties in a hospital in Freetown.

Northern Legal Appointments - Mr. B.J. Fox, K.C., has been appointed Senior Crown Prosecutor for Co. Tyrone, and Mr. L.E. Curran (who is serving with the British forces) Senior Crown Prosecutor for Co. Fermanagh. Mr. Fox succeeds Mr. W. Lowry, K.C., now Parliamentary Secretary to the Northern Ireland Ministry of Home Affairs, and Mr. Curran succeeds Mr. Fox in Co. Fermanagh.

Fivemiletown’s New Minister - Cavanaleck (Fivemiletown) Presbyterian congregation on the 10th night made an unanimous call in favour of the Rev. Victor G. Byers, a licentiate of the Dublin Presbytery and assistant to the Rev. R. Maxwell, M.A., of Woodvale Presbyterian Church, Belfast. He succeeds the Rev. Robert M’Causland, who has retired.

Fermanagh Gifts - To the Ulster gift fund Fermanagh has sent over 7,000 knitted comforts, 1,372 hospital garments, 120 hospital dressings, and this last week in two days supplied a rush order for 1,000 roller bandages, Fermanagh’s quota of the number required to supply all L.D. Volunteers and ‘B.’ Specials, with one bandage and dressing each.

The Methodist Church - The Methodist Church last Sunday and next in many places, have welcomed, or will welcome new clergymen to their pulpits. Rev. William H. Fullerton comes to Enniskillen as second minister, and Rev. Harold Sloan, carried with him the good wishes of his friends in Enniskillen in his new sphere of work in Fintona. Rev. T.J. Kyle, after three years of good work in Lisnaskea, goes southward to Mountmellick. Cootehill regretfully says goodbye to Rev. Wm. Woods after five years of faithful service, as he goes to Longford. He is succeeded by Rev. Samuel J.W. Nabney, B.A., from Fintona, whose influence will be felt as a preacher and singer, being one of the ‘Conference Quartet.’ Clones Man’s Adventure - Mr. R. Mossop, who carried on a spirit business in MacCurtain St., Clones, before joining the British Navy, has visited relatives in Scotshouse. He was in an oil tanker which was shelled and sunk by a German submarine, only 14 of the crew escaping in a lifeboat. They were picked up after six days in an exhausted condition and brought to an English port.