September saw the death of Queen Elizabeth II, with many people in Fermanagh paying their respects to the late monarch.

From the symbolic reenactment of her history-making short journey crossing the street from St. Macartin’s Cathedral to St. Michael’s Church in Enniskillen, to those who travelled over to London to pay a final farewell with the hundreds of thousands of other people who lined the streets, to the people who bowed their heads during the National Moment of Reflection, the people of Fermanagh and beyond played their part during the historic days.

Her Majesty’s passing proved a sombre and emotional experience for Catherine Lindsay as she travelled to London with her mother and sister to pay their final respects to Queen Elizabeth II.

Enniskillen woman Catherine, her mother Diannah Gott and sister Alex McKee queued for more than 12 hours to see the late Queen’s coffin in Westminster Hall, and then headed to The Mall the next day for the funeral.

There was little change expected with the confirmed sale of W. T. Morrison Funeral Directors to Keith Elliott, with the sale just the latest changing of owners for one of Enniskillen’s oldest businesses. Mr. Elliott’s purchase from Austen Stinson would see Mr. Stinson – a funeral director for 36 years – now “semi-retire”, he said.

The business has traded as W. T. Morrison since the original owner started in 1880, and has seen several owners over the past 142 years. It was purchased by the Stinson family back in 1986.

Also this month, a local poultry business called for decisive action over drainage problems once and for all following yet more disruption to their business following weekend flooding.

Wilson Poultry Limited, based between Lisnaskea and Brookeborough,has been subject to flash flooding ordeals since their hen houses were built in 2008, with flooding again striking at the site.

This month saw Stephanie Maginnes take on a challenge of walking around the lake edge of Enniskillen to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Society.

Stephanie (47) originally from Scarva, Co. Down but now living in Enniskillen, took on the challenge in memory of her late mother, Phyllis, but the challenge was also significant also as Stephanie had a mini-stroke back in January 2017 at the age of 41.

Stephanie cared for her mother, who died in December, 2019, for four years prior to her stroke.

She said:“I was looking after my mum for four years at home before I had my mini stroke. Most of my working life, before I had a stroke I was a carer and I looked after my mum.

“I loved being a carer and it gives you a great pleasure to give people a bit of TLC in their final years and now I have seen it from both sides.”