Jubilee: Royals charmed Fermanagh on second visit, in 2002

It was a sad time for The Queen, who had lost both her mother and her sister within seven weeks, but Her Majesty showed great warmth on Tuesday, May 14 – her second visit to County Fermanagh, and her first as reigning monarch – when she and Prince Philip spent an historic hour of her three-day Golden Jubilee trip to Northern Ireland in Ballinamallard.

The town and the county had suffered its own sad bereavements. Top rally driver and local businessman Bertie Fisher, his son Mark and his daughter Emma were killed when their helicopter crashed in January of the previous year.

Mr. Fisher’s family engineering business suffered further loss that August when Bertie’s father, Thomas (79), who founded the company, died.

The factory was to host The Queen’s Golden Jubilee visit, and a bridge linking the plant with a new car park would be opened by the Duke of Edinburgh.

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Rascals PlayStation was also a key location on the itinerary. On the Tuesday and Wednesday, the Royal couple also visited Omagh, Cookstown, Hillsborough Castle, Belfast and Stormont.

From early morning on the big day, Ballinamallard waited for Her Majesty’s helicopter. The Queen and Prince Philip were due in at 10.40am and it was a bitterly cold day.

A raw wind whipped through the shivering crowds when the unmistakable throb and clatter of approaching helicopter engines warmed their hearts.

Two huge choppers roared directly overhead on their deafening approach to the playing fields of the town’s football club. They landed and their occupants disembarked. The Queen and Prince Philip weren’t amongst the arrivals!

Another, slower helicopter flew in and hovered above the first two machines. From their vantage point outside Rascals PlayStation, the awaiting spectators and welcoming party clutched their Union flags and watched as the third helicopter landed gently on the grass.

“This must be her now,” said a lady in the Rascals group. After several apprehensive minutes five large limousines approached, fronted by a handsome and meticulously uniformed team of motorcycle outriders.

The two leading cars drove past the Rascals childcare facility, one bearing the Duke of Edinburgh, and headed for the Fisher Engineering complex. The factory was immaculate, recently painted, with a big white marquee erected in the carefully tended grounds.

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The gardens were newly weeded, the hedges were virtually washed, cut and blow-dried, and the paths and lawns were as pristine as on any picture postcard.

The three following cars took a right turn onto the Coa Road and through the gates of Rascals.

Two passed by and parked, facing back towards the main road. The third limousine drew to a halt before the awaiting dignitaries and VIPs.

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An escort opened one of its doors and Her Majesty stepped onto the tarmac. She wore a light-blue tweed suit, matching hat and black gloves, and a bright smile.

Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for County Fermanagh, the Earl of Erne, in full ceremonial dress, introduced her to each of the awaiting dignitaries and VIPs in turn, and accompanied her to the door of Rascals.

The Queen paused, turned around, smiled warmly, waved to the spectators, and went inside. Inside, it was similarly happy and joyful. The Queen was shown the children’s facilities, and watched with enthusiasm as the youngsters played games and displayed their expertise at woodwork and embarked on some sand and water activities, puzzles and floor games.

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‘Welcome’

“Hello, Your Majesty,” said young Helen, “Welcome to Ballinamallard”.

To the added delight of the children, The Queen planted an apple tree in their newly created Jubilee Garden, which was on the site of the former railway station.

Meanwhile, a few hundred yards away, the Duke of Edinburgh was touring the Fisher complex with Managing Director Ernie Fisher. Inside, Prince Philip met local dignitaries, politicians, VIPs and the staff of the greatly-acclaimed engineering company and was introduced to some key customers.

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He viewed its modern facilities, saw blueprints and designs, observed Fisher’s state-of-the-art technology, production lines and equipment, and chatted with all sorts of everyone about their work.

Outside, The Duke of Edinburgh officially opened the new Fisher-built footbridge spanning the Ballinamallard River.

The imposing structure was built to link the factory complex to the site of the original workshop and the new car park. The bridge, dedicated to the memory of company founder Thomas Fisher, greatly impressed Prince Philip. The Duke wondered if it would wobble like London’s Millennium Bridge, and was assured that it wouldn’t!

Joining her husband in Fisher’s marquee, Her Majesty signed the visitors’ book and was introduced by Canon Paul Hoey to members of the Friday Senior Citizen’s club.

“A Friday club,” she quipped, “but this is Tuesday!” “Yes,” chorused the ladies, “but we’ll have plenty to talk about at our next Friday meeting!”

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Before leaving the marquee, both The Queen and Prince Philip were given a viewing of the special exhibition, entitled ‘Bygones of Ballinamallard’, created by Ballinamallard Historical Society.

After barely an hour in Ballinamallard, the Royal couple were whisked by car back to the football field, and then on to Omagh in their helicopter.

And the Friday Club ladies are still talking about that Tuesday in 2002.