Former vice lord lieutenant of Co Tyrone and chairman of Clogher Valley Show a ‘real gentleman’

Captain Robert Hugh Lowry OBE, who served in the Army with the Royal Irish Fusiliers, was a past president and chairman of Clogher Valley Show who lived at Blessingbourne Country Estate, a large Elizabethan-style manor house near Fivemiletown.

His eldest son, Nicholas, followed in his father’s footsteps and took over the chairmanship of Clogher Valley Agricultural Society.

Speaking to the News Letter following his father’s passing at the age of 88 said: “He was a good father to the three of us. He was very generous, and very knowledgeable. He was very much part of the community and would have sat on a lot of committees and what-have-you.

“He was very well respected and he was an absolute gentleman. He could quite happily talk to anyone – he could talk to the Queen or he could talk to the doorman, just as easily as anybody.”

Mr Lowry, speaking about his father’s military career, said: “His regiment was the Royal Irish Fusiliers, and he did about 12 years military service. He retired around about 1963. He spent a bit of time over here [Northern Ireland], and he was with the British Army of the Rhine as it was then in Germany, and he saw active service in the Mau Mau rising in Kenya.

“I travelled with him in Germany but I was nought and one (years old) and I have no memories of that time. I was born in Altnagelvin [Londonderry] so he must have been over here briefly.”

Ruth Montgomery, secretary of Clogher Valley Agricultural Society, said: “He was a true gentleman, and he was everybody’s friend. He was a tireless worker and his dedication to the show had no boundaries really. He did voluntary work before the show, helping with the site, and he helped to make the show the success it has become.

“He would have been a well respected member of the community. He was president and chairman of the show for over half a century.

“After he passed on the chairmanship on to his son, he retained the role of president and he was still a very active gentleman.

“Our sympathies would go to his wife Angela, and all his family.”