The Impartial Reporter, September 20, 1990: Schoolgirl Elaine Jackson certainly does not need any lessons in art and design work - she has just collected one of the top prizes in a nationwide competition. See Looking Back, 25 Years Ago, below.

25 YEARS AGO - Sept 20, 1990: How the Queen Mother and Barry McGuigan are helping Integrated School - Top personalities from the worlds of television, sport and the arts have contributed to an auction in aid of Enniskillen Integrated Primary School. The Queen Mother heads an impressive list of prominent people who have donated items to help raise funds for the school at Drumcoo. Many of the goods are of a personal nature and the auction at the Killyhevlin Hotel in Enniskillen on the evening of Thursday, September 27, will give the people of Fermanagh a unique opportunity to bid for memorabilia belonging to the rich and famous. The idea for the auction came earlier this year when the school was presented with two pieces of masonry from the Berlin wall. One was subsequently built into the school foyer and it was decided to put the other one “under the hammer.” It was then that the fundraising group of the school’s parents’ council decided to organise an auction.

Queen Mother - The Queen Mother sent a transistor radio accompanied by a message from Clarence House on a gilt edged card. Former world champion boxer, Barry McGuigan donated a pair of gloves, and composer Phil Coulter, forwarded a personally endorsed copy of the musical score to his famous “Tranquility.” UK award - Schoolgirl Elaine Jackson certainly does not need any lessons in art and design work - she has just collected one of the top prizes in a nationwide competition. The second form pupil at Enniskillen Collegiate School took part in a Book Tokens of the United Kingdom competition to design the front of a book token. An entrant in the under-12 category, Elaine, one of a number of prizewinners throughout the United Kingdom, won a £100 book token for herself and £100 in book tokens to go to the school library.

Young Apprentice of Year - A young motor mechanic is this year’s “Apprentice of the Year” at Enniskillen Training Centre. Andrew Robinson, from Lurganboy, Newtownbutler, received his award from Mr. Bryan Gallagher, the Principal of St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Enniskillen. Andrew is now continuing his training with County Cars, Enniskillen.

Let’s pamper our grandparents - We have Mother’s Day, Father’s Day - and now we have “Grandparents’ Day.” A new celebratory day this Saturday provides a golden opportunity to pamper grans and granddads all over the county. Grandparents’ Day, the brainwave of the charity Age Concern, is on Saturday (September 22nd).

50 YEARS AGO - Sept 17, 1965: Dean Retires After 45 Years - Parishioners and friends of the Very Rev. Dean F.W. Grant, who recently resigned as rector of the parish of Kinawley and Holy Trinity, assembled in the Parish Church, Derrylin, for a special service of thanksgiving to mark the end of a long and devoted career in church and parish. The service was conducted by the Rector, the Rev. M.J.F. Lynn, Canon H.I.K. Anderson acted as chaplain to the Bishop who preached the sermon. Pointing out the many qualities required by a rector if he was to fulfil successfully the mission for which he had been instituted, the Bishop drew attention to the outstanding career and scholastic achievements of Dean Grant. Enniskillen Man’s Win - Enniskillen man, Mr. A.E. Bruce, won the Whelan Silver Bowl for the highest number of points in the flower section of Omagh Horticultural Society’s annual show on Monday.

Personal - Mr. James T. Menaul, formerly of Enniskillen, has been appointed personnel manager of Spaldings, the sports good firm, which has switched its European headquarters to Monkstown, Co. Antrim.

Irvinestown Visit - Irvinestown will be visited on the afternoon of Tuesday, 28th Sept., by the Minister of Commerce, Mr. Brian Faulkner, on the invitation of Irvinestown Chamber of Commerce.

C.E. Convention - Delegates from all over Ireland will be arriving in Enniskillen this week-end for the 51st Irish National Christian Endeavour Convention.

New £140,000 R.C. School - A new Roman Catholic voluntary secondary intermediate school, built at a cost of £140,000, for the parishes of Garrison and Belleek, opened on Monday with 190 pupils. The school is St. Mary’s Secondary Intermediate School, and it has been built at Brollagh, Belleek, on the same scale as other intermediate schools in the county which receive the full grant of the Ministry of Education. The Ministry’s share of the cost of the Belleek school is 65 per cent., and the remaining 35 per cent. is to be borne by the parishes concerned, which lie in a sparsely populated area of the county. The Ministry will be responsible for the payment of the salaries of the teachers and will also bear two thirds of the cost of heating and cleaning. There are nine teachers on the staff. The Principal is Mr. John Gilligan, of Cowpark, a graduate of Trinity College, and the Vice Principal is Mr. John James Tracey, of Garrison, who was on the teaching staff of St. Joseph’s Intermediate School, Enniskillen.

75 YEARS AGO - Sept 19, 1940: A Prisoner of War - Sergeant Jack Floater, son of Sergeant-Major and Mrs. Floater, the Redoubt, Enniskillen, is a prisoner of war and wounded. He was wounded on 26th May and reported missing. A letter written on 3rd June has just been received by his parents giving the joyful news that he is safe. He was in the Kings Royal Rifles (old 60th).

Cavanaleck’s New Minister - There was a very large congregation in Cavanaleck Presbyterian Church, near Fivemiletown, but situate in County Fermanagh, on the occasion of the ordination of the Rev. V. Gordon Byers, B.A., in succession to Rev. Robert M’Causland, retired, on the 11th inst. Mr. Byers was a licentiate of Dublin Presbytery, and assistant to the Rev. W.N. Maxwell, M.A., in Woodvale Presbyterian Church, Belfast. The Rev. J. Cecil Parke, B.A., Moderator of the Presbytery presided.

Local Teaching Appointments - Mr. Leo O’Neill, P.E.T., member of the teaching staff of St. Michael’s Presentation Brothers Schools, Enniskillen, for the past six years, has been appointed principal of Tattygar P.E.S., Lisbellaw, Co. Fermanagh. Mr. M. Mullen, P.E.T., Dromore, has been appointed to the teaching staff of St. Michael’s P.E. School, Enniskillen. Miss Kathleen McReynolds, principal Samsonagh P.E.S., Co. Fermanagh, has been appointed principal Cushendun P.E.S.

Swimming - Juvenile Gala at Enniskillen - A Juvenile Gala under the auspices of Enniskillen Swimming Club was held at the Weirs Bridge on Wednesday, 11th September. Notwithstanding the rather cold weather, entries were good and each event was keenly contested. As usual the Lilo Races were the great attraction and much amusement was caused by the frantic efforts of the competitors to right themselves after a collapse. The arrangements were in the hands of the hon. secretary, Mr. P.J. Flanagan, assisted by Committee members.

The Governor Tours Tyrone and Fermanagh - The Governor made an extensive tour of Tyrone and Fermanagh, visiting military units, a police depot, and an infantry training centre. In Fermanagh his Grace received the County Inspector of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Local Defence Volunteers. In the evening his Grace returned to Baronscourt.

Find in Clones Graveyard - Mr. B. Maguire, caretaker of the Round Tower graveyard, has unearthed an ancient headstone, quarter moon shape, with an inscription in Irish. Underneath the stone was a bell-shaped bottle bearing date 1679, and inside was a cork which turned into fine dust when touched.