Across the calm waters of Lough Erne last Thursday, with his family close by, the late John Sey made his final journey.

His remains were borne past places he knew intimately, with the people he loved most, places such as Crichton Tower on Gad Island, which can be seen in the background here, as if also paying its last respects to John. They travelled past woodlands where he had roamed as a boy, filled with wildlife he loved so well.

For a man that spent much of his life on the Crom Estate and the waters of Lough Erne, it was fitting that John’s final journey to his resting place was on board a Lough Erne Cot, surrounded by his family.

As many people have said to his family over the past week since his passing: “John was Crom, and Crom was John.”

Last Thursday, 64-year-old John’s remains were gently ferried across Lough Erne, following his peaceful passing at his home on Crom Estate.

The first-born child to the late Neville and Christina Sey, John grew up in the beautiful Crom Estate with his sister, Amanda, with the estate a place for which he lived and breathed, somewhere he was proud to call home.

When he was 16 years old, John started working as a Junior Gamekeeper for the late Lord Erne on the estate.

He also worked in later years for Lord John, doing cot trips, and ferrying the Crichton family to and from church every Sunday morning.

“The Crichton family have been a tower of support throughout the years, and always treated the Seys as family,” said John’s grieving wife, Sharon.

When The National Trust took over the estate in 1987, they could not have found a better man to be Warden in Charge than John, who knew Crom inside out. He continued to work for them for the next 28 years.

John met his devoted wife Sharon in 1982, and they married five years later. They had three children – Jonathan, Stacey and Dylan – and in recent years they also welcomed four grandchildren – Ollie, Alife, Josh and Hannah.

A true family man

John was a true family man who lived for his family, and would do absolutely anything for them.

Sharon revealed: “John was my soulmate – he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He made me so proud every day, and I treasure all the precious memories we made over his lifetime.”

He was a fun grandfather to his grandchildren, always getting up to mischief with them, and teaching them wildlife facts or sharing stories of his own childhood antics.

“My dad was the most amazing dad, and will always be my hero, not only to me but to my two boys, Ollie and Alfie.

“We love and will miss him every single day,” said his daughter, Stacey.

John’s favourite hobby was wildfowl shooting, and being out on Lough Erne – something he shared with his father, Neville, and his son, Jonathan, who said: “Dad wasn’t just my father, but the best shooting partner. He taught me everything I know; a tradition I hope my own son will carry on in the Sey name.”

And for his son, Dylan, John was always there to support him: “Dad was my biggest supporter – he was always there to cheer me on, especially through my move to England. I will miss our daily [online] Facetimes. He is my inspiration.”

John had a passion for all wildlife, particularly birds, which he loved to observe, drawing on that knowledge to take part in many wildlife surveys.

After his early retirement in 2015, this became a great outlet for him, and it kept John involved with The National Trust as he took great pride in being a volunteer for them.

Away from the wildlife and outdoors, John certainly enjoyed a good Crom party, with the Seys known to be the first at a party, and the last to leave.

‘Always up for a laugh’

“John lived life to the full! He was such a friendly, smiley, kind and witty person; always up for a laugh, and if there was a joke to be had, you could put your life on it, he would be in the middle of it,” said Sharon.

“There is not only a great big hole left in his family’s and friends’ hearts, but also in Crom. As many people have said over the past week, ‘John was Crom and Crom was John’,” she added.

John passed away peacefully at Game Keepers Cottage, the home where he and Amanda grew up, and the home he and Sharon moved back to after his early retirement.

He passed away, surrounded by his adoring family. He took his final journey out of Crom via a Lough Erne Cot over to Holy Trinity Church, Crom on Thursday, March 31, with the journey across the waters he knew so well giving a special send-off for a most special man.

His passing is deeply regretted by his sorrowing wife, sons, daughter, sister and all the family circle, and his wide circle of friends.

Funeral arrangements were by Dowler’s Funeral Services, Lisnaskea.