County Fermanagh Celebrates The Queen's Platinum Jubilee 2nd-5th June 2022

18/09/2022

11/09/2022

Reading of the Accession Proclamation
Enniskillen Townhall - 3pm, 11th September 2022

Following the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, the Accession Proclamation of King Charles III will take place on Sunday 11 September 2022 at 3pm from the Townhall balcony, Enniskillen.

This is the same balcony from which Princess Elizabeth greeted many hundreds of people, during her first visit to Enniskillen on the 20th March 1946.

11/07/2022

Platinum Jubilee Beacons lit at Enniskillen Castle on 2nd June

08/07/2022

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dkPbheUkZc

The Massed Pipes & Drums on parade for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in Enniskillen on Thursday 2 June 2022.Please like and share and don't forge...

08/07/2022

This brooch was presented by Her Majesty the Queen to the six Maids of Honour at the Coronation in 1953

Royal Jewels ~ Duchess of Norfolk QEII Coronation Monogram Brooch

This brooch was designed and created by Garrard & Co. Ltd. The brooch is designed in HM Queen Elizabeth II's monogram and modeled after HM's own handwriting. "With grateful thanks" is inscribed on the back of the piece. The brooch is crafted from round brilliant which are set in platinum.

Six identical brooches were created by Garrard's and given to the six Maids of Honour, who attended the Queen at the Coronation: Lady Jane Vane-Tempest-Stewart, Lady Anne Coke later known as Lady Anne Glenconner, Lady Moyra Hamilton, Lady Mary Baillie-Hamilton, Lady Jane Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, and Lady Rosemary Spencer-Churchill.

This particular brooch, which was recently sold at auction, was gifted to Lavina, Duchess of Norfolk as a thank you for her assistance prior to HM's 1953 coronation. Lavinia Fitzalan-Howard, Duchess of Norfolk stood in for HM The Queen during the rehearsals held at Westminster Abbey in the lead up to the 1953 Coronation. As Earl Marshall of England, the Duchess of Norfolk’s husband, Bernard Fitzalan-Howard, 16th Duke of Norfolk, had overall responsibility for the organisation of the Coronation, and indeed he had also planned the Coronation of King George VI in 1937.”

The brooch was accompanied by a handwritten letter from Her Majesty the Queen addressed to Lavinia, Duchess of Norfolk and dated June 1953, two days after the Coronation, in which she expressed her thanks to the Duchess:

"Dear Lavinia

I write to express my heartfelt thanks to you for standing in for me in the Abbey in the weeks leading up to my coronation. It was extremely kind of you to be there to support me at such an important moment of ones life, and it gave me such tremendous confidence to know all was ready before the service. The Archbishop was very grateful for all your patient help and Mummy hopes that my understudy will be available when I am next ill in bed!!

I hope you will accept this small gift, which was Philip’s inspired idea, as an enduring reminder of my appreciation.

Yours sincerely

Elizabeth R."

Known for her charitable interests, the Duchess of Norfolk donated the brooch to raise funds for the Foreign and British Bible Society in 1956, the funds contributing to the Society’s new headquarters in Canberra, Australia, which were formerly opened in 1960.

Consigned to Noonans from Australia, the brooch came with a copy of a typed and signed letter, dated 8 February 1960, from Mr Anthony Elder, the Chairman of The British and Foreign Bible Society, addressed to Mr Edward Clark of Epping Gospel Church, New South Wales, Australia. The letter confirmed that the ‘Coronation Diamond Pin’ was ‘donated to the Society in lieu of a monetary contribution by Her Grace the Duchess of Norfolk’. To add to the fascinating history of this piece, it was not the Duchess herself who presented the society with the brooch but a ‘Mr Lindwall at Arundel on behalf of the Commonwealth Council’, who acted as the emissary.

This past June 2022 the brooch sold at a Noonan's auction for £180,000 or approximately $215,000 US. The piece was purchased by a European Collector and no further information is available as to the piece's currently whereabouts or the new owner.

It is assumed that the remaining 5 brooches are still in possession of the original owners or their families.

Shared from History & Lives of the British Royals
https://www.facebook.com/History-Lives-of-the-British-Royals-122845112442353/

07/07/2022

Millions of you took part in The Big Jubilee Lunch this year, meeting new neighbours and making new friends 👏

Let’s keep that community spirit going! Our superstar Marketing Manager Kate has 6 great insider tips to keep the Big Lunch spirit alive in your neighbourhood 👇
https://www.edenprojectcommunities.com/keep-The-Big-Lunch-spirit-alive

05/07/2022

Organisers of the ‘Our Coronation Story’ exhibition held at Enniskillen Castle Museum say they were delighted by the amount of visitors the…

26/06/2022

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13/06/2022

Coronation Exhibition Brought Back Memories

Organisers of the ‘Our Coronation Story’ exhibition at Enniskillen Castle Museum have been overwhelmed by the number of visitors it received over the eleven days it was on display. Visitors travelled from far and wide for the unique opportunity to see the garments worn by those who attended and participated in the Coronation Ceremony, souvenirs and memories from local people and the dress, coat and hat worn by Her Majesty when she visited Enniskillen in 2012 for the Diamond Jubilee. The exhibition was also featured extensively as part of the coverage of the Platinum Jubilee events, with Enniskillen showcased by the BBC to represent Northern Ireland. The exhibition was kindly sponsored by Fermanagh & Omagh District Council and the National Lottery Community Fund.

On behalf of the many individuals and community organisations which volunteered to curate and support the exhibition, Selwyn Johnston thanked Sarah McHugh and the staff of Enniskillen Castle Museum for working in partnership with them to host it. In particular he acknowledged the assistance of Sinead Reilly and Colin Fawcett who were invaluable, working closely with the volunteers throughout the exhibition, which ensured its success. Many people kindly loaned Coronation items for the exhibition and the recreation of a Coronation Living Room Scene by Toni Johnson and Sheila O’Hare allowed visitors to step back in time, to that moment, on 2nd June 1953, when families all gathered around the television to watch the Coronation.

Selwyn shared that the display of Her Majesty’s Hat, Coat and Dress brought back fond memories to visitors as they recalled the Queen’s last visit to Enniskillen in 2012 for her Diamond Jubilee. Thanks was extended to Her Majesty The Queen and Angela Kelly Personal Advisor to Her Majesty (The Queen's Wardrobe) for allowing these garments to be loaned for the exhibition and Viscount Brookeborough for facilitating their transportation.
The exhibition organisers were also delighted to have a loan of the garments from the Earl & Countess of Erne of the Right Honourable Henry Crichton of Crom Castle, 6th Earl of Erne who was First Page of the four Pages of Honour in Westminster Abbey, aged 15 years at the time.

The family of Lady Moyra Campbell (nee Hamilton) who was one of the six Maids of Honour, loaned her beautiful dress which was a widely admired. Lady Moyra, daughter of the 4th Duke of Abercorn, grew up at Baronscourt, the Abercorn family seat in County Tyrone.

One of the highlights of the exhibition was the regal robes and coronets worn by the Earl and Countess of Belmore and the chairs which they sat on during the Westminster Abbey Coronation Ceremony. Thanks was extended to the Earl & Countess of Belmore, Castle Coole and Eva Ewart, Belmore Family Archivist for kindly loaning these items, which have previously not been displayed to the public outside Castle Coole and were extremely special to have within the exhibition.

Selwyn extended thanks to the members of the Trefoil Guild who acted as guides throughout the exhibition and added to everyones enjoyment with additional information about the items on display.

Special children’s Coronation activity sheets were designed and produced by Mary Gordon McBride with over 3,000 distributed to children and schools throughout the exhibition.

The Erne Area Women's Institute hosted the popular 'Where's Winnie' Childrens Corgi Trail at Enniskillen Castle Museum during the 'Our Coronation Story' exhibition with Tesco sponsoring the prizes for everyone correctly identifying the mystery word from handknitted Corgi’s lovingly made by WI members located throughout the museum.

June McIlfatrick provided the beautiful flower arrangements throughout the duration of the 'Our Coronation Story' exhibition and it was lovely to have the flowers at the entrance to the exhibition as visitors arrived which were greatly admired.

Many volunteers from Headhunters Railway Museum were also involved in supporting the exhibition including Alan Devers, Mary Gordon McBride and Nigel Johnston

Selwyn concluded that the exhibition was a community effort and helped rekindle the same sense of pride which was experienced in 1953 with so many local people from the District either participating in or attending the Coronation Ceremony. It was a lovely opportunity for people to learn more about the Coronation and the important part our District played on that historic day.

Thanks to Roy Crawford for the photographs Roy Crawford Photography

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council The National Lottery Community Fund Northern Ireland Experience Enniskillen Enniskillen Castle: Fermanagh County Museum

13/06/2022

A keep fit session with a difference was held in Letterbreen on Friday 3rd June to celebrate the Queens Jubilee.

A 1950s style music and dress keep fit session took place under the watchful eye of our instructor Mary Rutledge.

All the ladies had a fabulous evening. A bbq was held and music by Letterbreen silver band concluded the evening

12/06/2022

Children and staff at Lisbellaw Primary School had a royally good time as they celebrated Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee on Tuesday, May 31.

12/06/2022

Pupils and staff of Lack Primary School had great fun celebrating The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee on Monday, May 30.

12/06/2022

The Queen has overtaken Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who reigned for 70 years and 126 days between 1946 and 2016.

Louis XIV of France remains the longest-reigning monarch, with a 72-year and 110-day reign from 1643 until 1715.

The Queen, crowned in 1953, became the longest-serving British monarch in September 2015, surpassing her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria.

The 96-year-old celebrated her Platinum Jubilee earlier this month, with four days of parades, street parties, and other events held across the UK and the Commonwealth.

The Queen has become the world's second-longest reigning modern monarch.

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Thanks to Mary Gordon McBride for designing and funding the fabulous 'Our Coronation Story' puzzles and activities sheet for children. 3,000 sheets have been distributed throughout the exhibition, many to local school children who hav visited.

12/06/2022

Thank you to June McIlfatrick for providing the beautiful flower arrangements throughout the duration of the 'Our Coronation Story' exhibition at Enniskillen Castle. It was lovely to have the flowers at the entrance to the exhibition as visitors arrived and they have be greatly admired.

12/06/2022

Pupils and staff at Maguiresbridge Primary School celebrated The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee on Wednesday, June 1.

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12/06/2022

Please spare a moment to complete a quick survey regarding your experiences of the events for the Platinum Jubilee which were organised by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (Fermanagh Section)

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

12/06/2022

Thanks to all the wonderful members of The Trefoil Guild who have provided volunteer guides throughout the week for the 'Our Coronation Story' exhibition at Enniskillen Castle. You have been absolutely fabulous and added immensely to everyones enjoyment of the exhibition.

12/06/2022