Queen Elizabeth today raised the spirits of Ballinamallard, Co Fermanagh which was left devastated after top rally driver Bertie Fisher, his son Mark and his daughter Emma, were killed when their helicopter crashed in January last year.
Mr Fisher’s family engineering business is the backbone of the tiny village which suffered a further loss last August, when Bertie's father Thomas (79), who founded the company, died.
But today, virtually every man, woman and child living in Ballinamallard turned out in the wind and rain to cheer the Queen, and signal the start of her Golden Jubilee visit to Northern Ireland.
She was accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, who opened a river footbridge dedicated to the memory of Mr Fisher, who was ill when his millionaire son and grandchildren were killed.
Bertie's wife Gladys and son Roy survived after the helicopter came down in low cloud just a few miles from their home on their way back from a 50th birthday celebration for Mrs Fisher at the exclusive Ashford Castle in Cong, Co Mayo.
The Duke toured the family factory, and afterwards Ernie Fisher, the company's managing director, said: "My father founded the company in 1950 and would have been very pleased if he had been here for the royal visit.
"He was awarded the MBE in 1994 and it was his most prized possession. The Queen and Prince Philip's visit really has cheered up the whole community."
Fisher Engineering, which makes steel framework for the construction industry, is a thriving concern and provides employment for many of the villagers as well as people in the surrounding area.
Meanwhile, the Queen visited Rascals PlayStation childcare facility located in a recently converted railway building. Later she met pensioners in a marquee where tea and scones were served.
"She sat with us and chatted," said widow Ms Isa Craig who, at 92, is the oldest woman in the village.
PA