St. Macartin's Cathedral
Enniskillen, Northern Ireland
A Featured Cathedral Family
Member
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Sam Morrow
The Honorary Secretary of the Select Vestry for 23 years, Sam is married to Marie and has two grown-up children. He is also chairman of the Board of Governors of Portora Royal School.
Tell us about your early days.
I was brought up on a farm near Clabby, attended Clabby Primary School, went to
Sunday School and worshipped in St Margaret’s Parish Church. I attended Portora
Royal School and then Queen’s University, Belfast, graduating with a degree in agriculture in 1959.
What brought you to Enniskillen?
After graduation, I was appointed by the Ministry of Agriculture as an agricultural adviser in North Antrim. I was promoted by the Ministry to the post of Deputy County Agricultural Executive Officer for County Fermanagh in 1966 and as County Agricultural Executive Officer in 1977. Before retiring in 1996 I had also served as the Principal of Enniskillen College of Agriculture for a two year period.
What about your family?
I met my wife, Marie, while working in North Antrim. Marie was also employed by the Ministry of Agriculture as an adviser to the poultry industry. We were married in Bushmills Presbyterian Church in 1964. Our two children, James and Jane, were born in County Antrim. James, a graduate of Cambridge and Oxford Universities, is now a GP in Cambridgeshire and is married to a consultant surgeon – they have two young boys. Jane, who is a graduate of Aberdeen and Aberystwyth Universities, is a senior lecturer in equine science at the Enniskillen Campus of the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise. She is married to Meryyn Elliott, who farms near Ballinamallard. They have two boys and a girl at primary school.
What are your hobbies/interests?
For relaxation I enjoy angling for trout and salmon. I used to enjoy rough shooting but gave that up when our Irish Red Setter got too old. I am interested in local history in so far as it has impacted on my life. I have written and published three books. Two dealt with church history. The first was entitled ‘The Church of Ireland Parishes of Tempo and Clabby – A Shared Heritage’ and the other was ‘Clabby on the Map – The Church of Ireland Parish of Clabby and its People’. My biggest undertaking was a book relating to agriculture, entitled ‘Farming in County Fermanagh – Development in the Twentieth Century’, which was published in 2010 and launched by the Minister of Agriculture. I also had a substantial role in the BBC’s TV two-part production of 'Rodney’s Farm', broadcast in 2010.
Do you travel/hope to travel?
We have been to the United States and France on a number of occasions and to the Canary Islands very many times. Our travel highlights include the three-week visit to Zimbabwe for our son’s wedding where the Bishop of Clogher, Rt Rev Brian Hannon, officiated at the marriage ceremony. A two-week sailing holiday in the Caribbean, with our son and daughter-in-law who had sailed their yacht across the Atlantic, was another very enjoyable holiday. We have been to Egypt (including Mount Sinai) and hope to visit Rome, Pompeii and Capri.
What have been your best days?
I had an extremely happy childhood. My marriage to Marie, with a blissful and happy family life, has been combined with an enjoyable and satisfying career and retirement. It has been a privilege to serve my church and community. I have been a member of St. Macartin’s Select Vestry since 1968. I served as Rector’s Church warden for four years,
Rector’s Glebewarden for six years, and have been Honorary Secretary of the Select Vestry since 1989. I have also served the Diocese and wider Church of Ireland in a number of roles. I have been humbled and highly honoured to receive recognition for service to my employer and community. I served as High Sheriff for County Fermanagh in 1986. I was made an OBE at Buckingham Palace by Her Majesty in 1996 for services to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. It was also a great privilege for me, together with James and Jane, to be present in the Palace when Marie was made MBE in 1997 for her services to Riding For The Disabled Association.
Retirement so far has been busy, enjoyable and fulfilling. I have served on the Northern Ireland Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside and also on the Western Education and Library Board for eight years and was chairman of its Audit Committee. I am Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Erne and Melvin Enhancement Company which has the restocking of Lough Erne with native brown trout as its primary aim. I have served as a member of the Board of Governors of Tempo Primary School, Devenish College and Portora Royal School. I was chairman of the Board of Governors at Tempo and am currently chairman of the Portora Board of Governors.
Have you a favourites Bible verse/hymn?
I have two complementary hymns which capture everything for me about God’s creation and the wonders of the universe. The first is Mrs Cecil Frances Alexander’s All things bright and beautiful; and the second is How great thou art.
Any challenges?
How best to cope with advancing years and prepare for the inevitable. My intention is to spend more time with my grandchildren and try to keep active mentally and physically. I intend to involve myself in activities which have a valuable and worthwhile outcome and at the same time give me personal satisfaction.
