BY AUSTIN LYNCH

Tom Elliott is a well known face about Fermanagh, not only for being a long-standing member of Fermanagh District Council but for being MLA for Fermanagh / South Tyrone.

But, what people may not realise is that Tom is a member of the Orange Order and is currently serving his fifth year as County Grand Master for Fermanagh.

Tom explains that County Grand Master is a honourary title, signifying you are the leader of Orangeism in Fermanagh.

"You are the leader of the County and part of that role involves going to represent Fermanagh at various meetings and events throughout the North.", he explained.

The County Grand Master also has the privilege of chairing County Orange meetings.

Tom explains it used to be the case that the County Grand Master served until death but, under new rules, brought in 15 - 20 years ago, an individual can now only serve as County Grand Master for a maximum of five years.

Tom believes this is a good thing: "If you're in office for too long, things tend to get stale. But I believe any shorter might be a bit short. Five years is a nice length of time."

Tom has been involved with the Orange Order since he was a teenager, and is a member of Knocknamoul Lodge, which is the Lodge his father and his uncles were members of.

Although there are a few lodges closer to where Tom lives, he says the lodge you belong to usually is connected to your family history.

"My ancestors have been involved in Knocknamoul Lodge down through the years."

Knocknamoul is one of approximately 90 private lodges across Fermanagh and is part of the Ballinamallard District. There are 15 Districts in Fermanagh and one County Lodge, of which Tom is Grand Master.

On Saturday, 12th July, members of the Orange Order from all over Northern Ireland, and the border counties, gathered at venues across the North to celebrate the Battle of the Boyne celebrations.

The Fermanagh Twelfth celebrations took place in Kesh where thousands of Orangemen and women, and their families and friends, turned up for the annual County Demonstration.

And, as is usual for the annual event, Fermanagh brothers and sisters were joined by Orange Lodges from Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan and Leitrim.

"I cherish the fact that Orangemen from border counties come and openly express their culture. The border lodges are extremely loyal to do that all through the Troubles," Tom stated.

Asked if he thought the numbers involved in the Orange Order had dropped over the past few years, he believed that while a few lodges would have decreased in numbers, a few had their numbers bolstered, and that things had remained fairly static across Fermanagh.

"Numbers have not really dropped here - there is much more fluctuation in the East of the Province."

Contrary to what some people think, not all lodges have a band, although quite a few of them do. Tom also admits there can be a bit of private rivalry between the lodges, but he thinks this is quite encouraging in keeping the spirit of the organisation alive.

Looking back, Tom Elliott doesn't believe the Twelfth of July celebrations have changed all that much down through his memory.

"One major change is there used to be two demonstrations in Fermanagh each year - one for the north and one for the south of the county, except if the Twelfth was held in Enniskillen.

"This would have meant smaller numbers. Now, with a one county venue I think it is helpful, and there is more focus on the event, and the Orange Order itself."

Tom remembers the first year he joined the parade of his Orange Lodge as a senior member (you can't join the senior Lodge until 17 years of age).

It was in the 'early 1980s', and he remembers it being a sweltering hot day, for he recalls that a number of people passed out with the heat.

I tell him that the 'Twelfth' always gets good weather to which he laughs as he recalls one Twelfth when it rained so much the Orange colour from his collarette ran into his new suit ruining it. That's me told!

One thing that hasn't changed about the Twelfth is that it is a family orientated day. "It was always a day that was planned for. It didn't matter what else was going on, you always went to the Twelfth celebrations."

In more recent years, attractions such as Bouncy Castles, and King Billy on a white horse have been included to entertain the younger ones.

What tends to get forgotten sometimes is the Orange Order is a religious organisation and a number of the emblems and symbols on an Orangeman's 'collarette' are related to the Bible.

The collarette also indicates the lodge you belong to, and any office you might hold within the organisation.

Over the past few years, the Orange Order has started getting involved in work for external charities, and has had huge success with this, building up some very good relationships between the Order and the charities.

Tom describes this as part of the Order moving and looking forward, something he feels is incredibly important for the future of the organisation.