THE heartbroken wife of the late businessman and innovator, Bertie Hemphill, has paid tribute to her beloved husband of 56 years who was always there for her "no matter what".

Robert James 'Bertie' Hemphill (81), late of Drumgallan Crescent, Enniskillen, and formerly of Rossgweer, Killadeas, passed away peacefully at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) on July 2.

"We went everywhere together," said Myrtle Hemphill, who celebrated 56 years of marriage to Bertie. "It was always Bertie and Myrtle, no matter where we went.

"I stood by him, and he stood by me. We had a great working relationship; I just loved him so much," Myrtle told this newspaper, grief evident in her voice.

Bertie grew up in Castlederg, with his family then moving to Sion Mills in the late 1950s. After getting married, he and Myrtle remained in Sion Mills and set up their business before relocating to Co. Fermanagh in 1989.

Described by his family as "a very big personality" who "interacted well with everybody, and made friends easily", Bertie was well-respected in the local community.

"He made loads of friends – it didn't matter who you were, what you were or where you came from, he just found some kind of commonality."

The family went on to explain that, as a father, Bertie was always very supportive of Myrtle, daughters Ruth and Elaine, and his grandchildren, encouraging them to be independent and to stand up for themselves.

The family said: "Nobody could have told dad what to do – he could be impulsive and spontaneous, and I suppose he led by example.”

The founder of a number of different businesses, including everything from building and haulage companies to running an award-winning guest house with his wife, Myrtle, Bertie was hands-on with his approach to work, and was as much an inventor as he was a businessman.

"In his working life, he was always trying new things. He had a very inventive brain and if somebody said they needed something, he would have made it," said Myrtle, noting how her late husband was an engineer by trade.

"He'd make many prototypes, and wreck many a thing at home until he got it right," said the family.

One of his most important inventions was the Jak-A-Box tipping lorry.

"He invented the Jak-A-Box lorries that, at the start, people wondered would they ever ‘take off’, but then they realised how useful they were and having one saved having two different types of lorry, saving businesses money.

“That was a great invention, but then his health overcame him, and he had to stop work," explained Myrtle.

Bertie was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in his early sixties, which meant he had to retire from his role as director of Jack-A-Box.

However, he continued to be inventive, with his illness inspiring him to create products that would make life easier for himself and for others with the disease.

"Bertie was a Christian man, and when he would have been going out to church, he found it difficult to take tea [due to his tremors], so he made wee cup holders that fitted the chairs," said the family, giving an example of one of Bertie’s inventions that aided those with Parkinson's Disease.

In his spare time, prior to his diagnosis, Bertie was a keen golfer who had an impressive handicap of two.

"He played golf for many years. Some of his peers with a similar handicap went off to play in championship games, but obviously because he had a family and work commitments, he wasn't able to do that, but it was something he enjoyed watching.

“He travelled to the recent British and Irish Open with family and enjoyed this immensely, giving his son-in-law ‘tips’ on how to play at any opportunity.”

Bertie also travelled regularly to Northern Ireland football matches with his family, but then his illness progressed and he had to settle for enjoying football and golf on TV.

He loved music and loved to sing, and took pride in singing at both of his daughters’s weddings.

When Bertie was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, instead of feeling sorry for himself, he and Myrtle helped set up the Fermanagh branch of Parkinson's Support NI, which provided great support for those with Parkinson's Disease and their families in the local area.

"That group met once a month, with exercise and singing classes, and they organised annual trips and Christmas outings. Everything that they raised, money-wise, went directly to the group," explained his family.

"Dad definitely was the force behind mum in all the charity work," they said, adding: "He would have supported her in everything she did.

"When we look at it now, retrospectively, dad was with mum when she helped set that wee group up with the help of others after moving away from the regional group, and over the years it has grown from strength to strength, so it's kind of like a wee legacy for him."

Bertie passed away peacefully following difficulties related to his condition. The family are very grateful for the care and support he received from the staff at the SWAH during his final weeks.

"The staff were absolutely fabulous – they were working under Covid restrictions, but their care was really attentive and good."

Bertie's funeral was arranged by Austen Stinson of W. T. Morrison Funeral Directors. His funeral service took place at Fermanagh Christian Fellowship on Monday, July 5, followed by burial in Cross Cemetery.

A beloved husband of Myrtle; dearly loved father of Ruth (Albert) and Elaine (Ian); a devoted grandfather of Robert (Lauren), Laura, Philip (Kerrie), Andrew, Jack and Luke; a dear brother to George, Heather and the late Olive and Hazel, Bertie is lovingly remembered by his family and all the family circle.