The official opening of Enniskillen RNLI’s new station was delayed over the weekend as the volunteer crew responded to a call out an hour just before the naming ceremony for the new lifeboat was due to get underway.
Just as the crew and invited guests were beginning to gather for Saturday's event, the volunteers’ pagers sounded at 1.05pm.
Belfast Coastguard requested the launch of the lifeboat to go to the aid of two people on a 23ft cruiser, which had broken down and was drifting towards rocks north of Castle Archdale.
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A jet ski with one onboard, which was in the area at the time, went to the aid of the boat’s crew but in rendering assistance had got tangled in the lines of the cruiser.
The “John and Jean Lewis” helmed by Wayne Robinson and with crew members Stephen Ingram, Alan Shaw and Andrew Wilson onboard, launched immediately and made its way to the scene.
Weather conditions at the time were blowing a strong westerly force 6-7 breeze and the crew encountered waves up to 10ft on route through the Broad Lough.
Arriving on scene, the crew observed that all were safe and well. The boat’s crew had been travelling to Enniskillen from Kesh when they encountered mechanical difficulties.
The jet skier had managed to untangle the jet ski from the cruiser and was holding the boat head to wind out of danger of the rocks.
A lifeboat crew member went onboard the cruiser to assess the situation and a decision was made to establish a towline and bring the cruiser to the nearest safe port at Muckross jetty while the jet skier helping continued on their way.
Arriving back to loud applause, the lifeboat crew were greeted by all assembled and the naming ceremony and service of dedication got underway.
The honour of officially opening the lifeboat station went to Johnny Weir, nephew of Ann Johnston.
Mrs Johnston, the daughter of the late Alfred Russell Wallace Weir from Bangor in Co Down, along with her late husband John made a generous contribution towards the cost of the new building in memory of her father.
The privilege of naming the lifeboat meanwhile, went to Sam McCreery, President of Enniskillen RNLI.
During Saturday’s naming ceremony, Mr Weir unveiled a plaque to officially open the lifeboat station before Monsignor Peter O’Reilly and The Very Revd. Kenneth Hall led the blessing and dedication of the new building.
After being housed in temporary accommodation for 21 years, volunteers at Enniskillen RNLI were handed the keys to their new station on the Killadeas Road at Gublusk last November.
The build, which took little over a year to complete, was carried out by the Omagh-based company, Woodvale Construction.
The modern purpose-built lifeboat station is located close to the lough to allow for an efficient launch of the inshore lifeboat.
The station also houses the associated launching tractor and equipment, full crew changing facilities, a workshop, office and training room.
The building is designed with a heating system which allows the heat to be drawn from the ground and produced inside keeping the temperature at an ambient 16 degree Celsius.
The excess is used to heat the water for showering, washing up and cleaning the vessels. The building is also fitted with solar panels on the roof to generate electricity.
The station’s inshore lifeboat which has been on service on Lower Lough Erne since 2018, was funded by a legacy from the late John and Jean Lewis from Birmingham in England.
It was Sam McCreery, President of Enniskillen RNLI, who had the honour on behalf of the Lewis family to hand the lifeboat into the care of the RNLI.
Trustee Paddy McLaughlin accepted the lifeboat on behalf of the charity and then handed her into the care of the station where it was accepted by Anna Classon, RNLI Head of Region.
During her address, Mrs Classon said: “I am so delighted and proud to be here with you all today and, as head of the Ireland region, am honoured to be part of this lovely ceremony for Enniskillen lifeboat station and all our volunteers here, but also for our wider RNLI family, volunteers and donors who are with us in person and spirit.”
Speaking following the event, Gary Jones, Enniskillen RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager said: “It has been a special day and I am delighted for the whole volunteer team that we have now officially opened this wonderful station, home to our equally wonderful lifeboat.
“The new station is a testament of the RNLI’s commitment and dedication to the community here locally and a credit to our crew’s efforts in continuing to bring people to safety on Lower Lough Erne.”
He added: “We are now well settled in our new station but can still be overwhelmed with the structure and facilities we now have when we come together for call outs and training, it really has made such a difference.
“We would like to thank everyone who has helped us to get to this stage, including the Weir family from Bangor in Co Down and the Lewis family from Birmingham.”
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