Fermanagh Community Hero nominee, Ethel Oldcroft, from Enniskillen, says she was “completely surprised” to hear she had been nominated.

Volunteering from her teens, she is actively involved in a host of organisations, including Coleshill Community Association, Coleshill Senior Citizens, the West End Partnership, the Rossorry Wednesday Club and South West Age Partnership.

“I’ve always enjoyed volunteering,” admits Ethel, whose volunteering days began at the age of 18 with the Guide movement in Enniskillen; she remained there for about three years until her marriage to Charlie Oldcroft.

After raising her family, Charles, Kim and Janet, she became involved in the Scouting movement, having spent five years with Enniskillen Cub Scouts, and then 15 years as Akela with Rossorry Scouts.

She retired from the Scouts (working with the age group, eight to 11) in 1999, and then says she “started working with senior citizens, aged 50 plus” and started Rossorry Wednesday Club. Ethel serves as Chairman of this group.

“We started in 1999 with 14 people and at present have 40 members,” she explained. Made up of 32 women and eight men, they meet every Wednesday, with the new season having started on September 16. Described as a social outlet, they engage in activities and different speakers come along. They held a summer outing to St. Mary’s Cathedral in Lisburn and had morning coffee there and a tour of the Cathedral. They stopped and had an evening meal in Aughnacloy Golf Club.

“Coleshill Community Association started about 2001/2002,” recollects Ethel, who became an active member and has held office as Secretary from the start.

According to Ethel, they help residents in the estate and look after the upkeep of the estate - working along with local service providers. Every year they hold a Coleshill in Bloom Competition, she said.

She serves as Secretary of Coleshill Senior Citizens, an organisation which started in 2002 and organises events, summer outings, a Christmas dinner and so on. They meet every first Monday of the month, when activities are arranged or they have a guest speaker in attendance.

Another focus for Ethel is her role as Secretary of the West End Partnership, where she has been involved for about three or four years. She explained they are a “cross community body working between Coleshill residents, Windmill Heights residents and Rossorry Church Road residents.” There are joint activities, such as fun days and coffee mornings, says Ethel, who adds that they arrange cookery classes and demonstrations, cardmaking and flower arranging. Events - organised through the Partnership - include an Irish stew night on St. Patrick’s Day, a Hallowe’en Party, a Christmas dinner and a summer outing. “I’m involved in the senior side of the Partnership,” points out Ethel.

For a number of years, she has been involved in the South West Age Partnership (SWAP), working between Omagh and Fermanagh for older people, and is a member of its committee.

An active figure in the community throughout her life, who has ‘never stopped’ volunteering, she says she “just loves” organising things. “I just get a kick out of it,” she enthused, adding: “I like to do things.” Ethel believes it is “a good way to make new friendships and meet new people” and she says she “learns a lot too.” She also feels it keeps her young and it “keeps the mind and body active.” The mother of three children, grandmother of 10 and great grandmother of two, admitted she feels “honoured” to have been nominated as a Fermanagh Community Hero. “It proves that I must have done something right for somebody through the years,” said Ethel.