Pupils at Devenish Primary School, Monea, in 1958. Past pupil Robin Ferguson, who is in the photograph (back row) kindly submitted this picture for use in our Looking Back column as he felt it would be of interest to readers. Included in the photo are: front row, Joy Acheson, Orville Elliott, Elizabeth Simpson and Evelyn Simpson. Second row, Ethel Irwin, Alice Cathcart, Betty Ferguson, Evelyn Elliott, Madeline Elliott, Wendy Hassard and Willie Little. Back row, Jimmy Dundas, Alan Elliott, David Brooker, Willie Elliott, David Cathcart, John Cathcart, Robin Ferguson, Eric Whittaker, Norman Brown, and Bert Ferguson. The young people at the school were from the Monea, Springfield, and Derrygonnelly areas. Missing from the photograph is Mrs. Wells, the teacher.

25 YEARS AGO - June 21, 1990: A tribute to everyone - Two men and a woman involved in serving the people of Fermanagh in various ways have been rewarded in the Queen’s Birthday honours for their outstanding contribution to the life of the community. In addition to the award to school bus driver, Mr. Ernie Wilson, the B.E.M. goes to Mr. Eugene Kelly, of Enniskillen, for his services to the community in Fermanagh; he has been deeply involved in the launching and development of the Fermanagh “Talking Newspaper for the Blind.” The third Fermanagh person honoured is Mrs. Violet Thornton, district manager of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, who received the M.B.E. in recognition of her services in the administration of housing in the area.

Parishioners say farewell to Rector - The parishioners of Magheracross in Ballinamallard have said their farewells to their rector, the Rev. Harry Trimble, who has been in charge of the parish for five and a half years.

MAP - Literary Prize - I was delighted to see an Enniskillen author among Ireland’s three nominees for a European Community literary prize. Seamus MacAnnaidh, who once contributed a regular column to the Impartial Reporter, has been named along with Anthony Cronin and Sean MacMathuna as the three Irish candidates for the £14,000 original literary work category.

Music Makers - MAP - Three young brothers, the Milligans, from beside Ederney, Co. Fermanagh are gaining a reputation as entertainers. I have heard Stephen, Jonathan and Robert playing in local taverns and found them very pleasant to listen to. They have just recorded their second tape of popular country and western, including “Returnin’ Home,” composed by Jonathan, aged 15, a student at the Duke of Westminster High School. He arranged the music for it himself for this G.C.S.E. examination.

Fire brigade colleagues pay tribute to officer - Mr. Jim Flanagan, sub-officer in charge of Belleek Fire Brigade, who retired recently has received a number of presentations from his colleagues, and friends in neighbouring fire services. Joyce is President - MAP - An organisation for young professional men and women is keeping Fermanagh people together - even in Belfast. The next President of Belfast Rotaract Club is 25-year-old Joyce Robinson, from Churchhill. About half its membership are people from Fermanagh now working in the city.

Good weather - Fermanagh Scouts were favoured with good weather for their annual weekend camp held at Castle Archdale group campside from Friday-Sunday, 4-6 May.

50 YEARS AGO - June 17, 1965: MAP - Savings “Rewarded” - The two awards which came to Fermanagh in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List show nice diversification of interests - savings and the Army. The Headmaster of Enniskillen Model School, Robert George Sullivan, receives the M.B.E. for services to Ulster Savings, being the Fermanagh Secretary.

Inniskilling Honoured - I was delighted to see that an old Enniskillen family, the McGintys, have not been forgotten. Sgt. James Joseph McGinty, of the 5th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (T.A.), who received the B.E.M., originally lived in the Old White Hart, now demolished to make way for Enniskillen’s imposing new Head Post Office.

Soccer “Stars” at Lisnaskea - Leading soccer personalities to appear at the Lisnaskea Young Unionists sports days on Thursday, 24th June, will be: - Isaac Andrews and Tom Nixon (Linfield), Desie Buick (Distillery), George Richardson (ex-Linfield), Bobby Braithwaite (Middlesborough), and Tommy Dickson, now Sports Officer of Standard Telephones and Cables Ltd. All these players are employees of S.T.C. who will shortly be opening their new factory in Enniskillen. Bobby Braithwaite, Ireland’s outside-left, was an employee before being transferred to England.

Fermanagh Scout and Guide Sports - Lisnaskea Boy Scout Troop won the County Scout Championship at the Fermanagh Scout and Guide sports held at Enniskillen on Friday evening. The Lisbellaw Pack won the Wolf Cub trophy. The 2nd Enniskillen Company won the Girl Guide trophy and the Lisbellaw Brownies the Brownie championship.

The Inniskillings - The Band, Drums and Pipes of the 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers will take part in a Regimental and Civic Service in St. Macartin’s Cathedral, Enniskillen, on Sunday, June 27. A representative party of the 5th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (T.A.) will be on parade and a Waterloo address will be given by the Bishop of Clogher, Dr. Alan Buchanan.

Fermanagh Art Exhibitors - Northern Ireland entries in the children’s art exhibition in Turkey were: - Jeremy Henderson (Lisbellaw Primary School) “The Postman;” Tom Parker (Kesh Secondary School) “Watching a Football Match;” Eva Masterson (Ballinamallard Secondary School) “The Picnic;” and Colin Noble (Coolrakelly Primary School) “Boy Chasing A Goose.” Clogher Guides Say Farewell - Members of Clogher Girl Guides held a farewell presentation party for Miss Amy Thompson, who has taken up an appointment in Ballymena. A holder of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award, Miss Thompson was Guide Captain for four years, and a member of the Company since its inception eleven years ago. 75 YEARS AGO - June 20, 1940: Fermanagh Council Chairman - Sir B. Brooke Re-elected - Sir Basil Brooke, Bart., M.P., was re-elected chairman of the Fermanagh County Council at the annual meeting of that body on Friday. Two Nights Sleep in 19 - ‘The whole world must have been praying for us,’ said Corporal L. Conroy, Strabane, of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, now on leave after evacuation from France. He revealed that some of the men with him had had only two nights’ sleep in 19, and during that time marched 190 miles.

5th Earl of Erne - No church in this country could hold all the people who would have liked to have been present at the Memorial Service to the Earl of Erne. No building could accommodate those hearts which are grieved, which sorrow with the Countess of Erne. Petrol and other restrictions forbade any large influx from outside, so that the small church at Crom had to symbolise the feelings and sympathies of very many people who could not be present at the Memorial Service on Friday, 14th inst. While the Service was in progress, a memorial service, with the same prayers and hymns, at the same hour was taking place in Badminton, Gloucestershire, for Lord Erne and Lord Frederick Cambridge. This service was attended by Queen Mary.

Home From The Front - Amongst those who were home on leave at Enniskillen, having escaped from Dunkirk, were Private Patrick John Dorothy, Royal Irish Fusiliers, Abbey-st, Enniskillen; Pioneer Richard O’Brien, R.E., Riverview, Enniskillen; Driver Wm. McClintock, R.A.S.C., Mill street, do; Private Owen Maguire, A.M.P.C., New Row, do; Private Charles Forster, Royal Scotch Fusiliers, of Lisbellaw, who was in Arras, is at present in hospital in England. He had three brothers in the Great War.

Personal - Mr. and Mrs. John Packham have arrived home at The Limes, Lisbellaw, from the Gold Coast. On their adventurous journey home they saw a German submarine sunk by a British ship of war.

Personal - Mr. E.D. Camier, B.A., Portora Royal School, Enniskillen, has been offered and accepted a teaching post as mathematical master in Walsall Grammar School, Birmingham.

Home on leave - Rev. P.J. Fox, Roman Catholic chaplain to the B.E.F. is home on leave. He is a son of Mr. J.P. Fox, the Brook, Enniskillen.