Obituary: Mr. Robert 'Eric' Watson

Born on November 6, 1930, at the family farmstead at Ballyreagh near Tempo, he was the fourth son to parents Joseph and Marjory, and one of a family of ten children.

He had three brothers – Wesley, Edmund and William – and six sisters: Gretta, Olive, Irene, Emma, Marjorie and Mary.

His younger years were spent in Ballyreagh until the mid-1930s, when the family moved to another farmstead at Mullyknock, also near Tempo.

He was educated at Ballyreagh School, Tempo – a country school which was sited high on the Ballyreagh hill, a picturesque area of Co. Fermanagh that looked out over the rolling fields to the valley below, with Topped Mountain in the distance.

Eric thoroughly enjoyed school and did very well academically. One story he loved to tell was how he and his friends travelled home from school – up to five children could be seen on the bicycle whizzing home downhill the whole way to Ballyreagh Crossroads.

During his childhood, he loved to listen to stories from his uncles, Johnny and Tommy Watson, who served in The Great War in France.

Mullyknock in the 1940s became a very interesting place to live for Eric and his siblings, with the Second World War and American soldiers training at Topped Mountain and in the Mullyknock area.

He spent many hours chatting with and observing them doing their manoeuvres. It was also a busy time on the farm for the Watson family.

During the war, the Government introduced a compulsory acreage scheme, and Eric returned home from school in the afternoon to help his father, Joseph, and older siblings produce five acres of food for the war effort every year, growing corn, potatoes and flax.

Upon leaving school, he continued to work the land with his father and brothers. Eric helped out on neighbouring farms and could be seen travelling by horse, bareback with no bridle, between farms in the local area; he recalled it was hard work, but very rewarding.

On becoming 18 years of age, he joined his brothers William and Edmund in the Ulster Special Constabulary F Platoon Tempo.

A very good shot just like his brother Edmund, Eric thoroughly enjoyed travelling to other B Special Huts for shooting competitions at Clabby, Maguiresbridge, Cornafanog, Dernawilt and also Letterbreen range.

In the 1950s, he took time out from the Ulster Special Constabulary to travel, but also with poor employment prospects at home he moved to England, staying initially with his sister Greta and husband Doug Bowler in Chingford.

He took up employment with Bylock Electric, which made household electric products, in Enfield, North London.

During his time in England, he made use of his spare time to travel into London and to Nottingham, visiting his brother Wesley, wife Mary, and children.

He also followed his sister Irene and husband Bruce Mayers to Canada, and took up employment with Avro Canada – an aircraft manufacturing company, in Ingersoll, Ontario – a company best known for the CF-105 Arrow.

He also made good his time, taking trips out into the countryside to shoot groundhogs for local farmers.

During this time, he also travelled down to America, to Long Island, visiting his father’s brother, uncle William Watson, and relatives.

By the late 1950s, with his parents getting on, Eric returned home to the family farmstead. He also rejoined F Platoon Tempo in 1958, returning to carrying out checkpoints throughout the local area, training and shooting.

In 1960, he began an association with Ballyreagh Orange Lodge No 876, being initiated into the lodge on November 7, the day after his 30th birthday, attending the Twelfth demonstration in Enniskillen the following year.

In 1966, Eric bought a farm at Ratoran, Tempo, with the whole family moving from Mullyknock that year. He and his brother, William, continued to farm at Ratoran, keeping a small suckler herd in the later years, setting the land out.

In the 1960s, Eric took up employment with the Road Service and later took up promotion to foreman.

One road upgrade project he always talked very much about the widening of the road from Ballyreagh crossroads to the old Pubble Methodist Church.

He and others always said it was best stretch of road in Fermanagh at that time – a road that Eric and family travelled with him for one last time during his final journey on August 13 this year.

On April 1, 1970, Eric transferred from the Ulster Special Constabulary on disbandment to the newly formed 4th (Co. Fermanagh) Battalion of the Ulster Defence Regiment as a part-time member.

He was based at Rossorry TA Centre; months later he applied and was accepted for service in the full-time permanent cadre.

His duties were mainly guarding key installations, Ennikillen TA centre, Brougher Mountain, carrying out many foot and mobile patrols, later guarding Coleshill, Angelo and Lisnaskea camps.

During his service in the UDR, he always recalled the sad loss of life. Eric was described as a hard-working, conscientious soldier that kept himself to himself; a man who remained committed to his job with the regiment up until his retirement in 1986.

On June 20, 1973, he married Olive Prentice in Ballinamallard Methodist Church, and they made their home at Derryraghan, Ballinamallard, where he brought up his children, Robert, Stephen and Sandra.

Eric attended Pubble Methodist Church and Sunday school.

Upon getting married, he attended Ballinamallard Methodist Church, and then Tempo Methodist on moving back to Ratoran in 1994.

Even when away from home, either working or on holidays throughout his life, he made a point of finding and attending a church on a Sunday.

Upon his retirement, Eric liked the simple life, returning to what he knew best. Growing potatoes by the acre, taking two hours of turf cutting in Watsons Bog, or lifting out the scythe and sharpening stone in his hip pocket, he would mow the grass effortlessly.

It was hard work, but he thought nothing of it; he would always say it was good exercise.

Eric enjoyed family get-togethers, catching up, having a laugh, visiting his neighbours, helping out when he could, sometimes just providing advice.

He liked to see people do well for themselves, just simply getting on in life.

He had a keen interest in farming and growing crops, and he always made a point of checking on animals with his son, Stephen, up until April of this year.

Eric took a great interest in what paths of life people took. He loved reading about military history and aircrafts, especially the Spitfire.

He also took a great interest in modern technology and digital devices as times moved on. He also spent much of his time walking his dog around Topped Mountain and Mullyknock area – a place that very brought back so many fond times, and a place that was never far away from his heart.

However, shooting was one of his great passions, and even at the age of 89 he could still get the air rifle out and show his grandchildren how to do it. It was a skill he never lost.

He loved many family holidays; some of them to the Isle of Man, Scotland, England and Jersey, and a return trip to Canada in 1997.

As Covid-19 restrictions eased, he was keen to get out and about, and there was no stopping him travelling to Newtownards Air Field on September 18, 2020 to see and hear the roar of the Spitfire engine fly past and land (thank you, NHS).

It was a trip that overwhelmed him. He even made a point to visit the Stormont Estate on the way home.

Eric saw so many hard times and good times over his 90 years, but he always said he had a good life. He was one of a generation that never complained.

Eric’s son, Stephen, who provided a tribute for the funeral service of his father, said that anyone who knew and worked with Eric Watson commented that he was a very conscientious man, who wasn’t afraid to work long, hard hours.

He was described as a good-natured man, a sensible man, someone that was quick-witted, a man that was always smiling and laughing, and he was also always there if you needed him.

Eric Watson’s funeral service took place at Tempo Methodist Church, with the interment in Sydare Ballinamallard. Donations were in lieu to the South West Acute Hospiral's Ward 3 Comforts fund.

Eric is survived by his wife, Olive; children, Robert (Joanne), Stephen (Elaine) and Sandra (Nial); grandchildren and his sister, Mary, as well as a wide family circle.