St. Macartin's Cathedral
Enniskillen, Northern Ireland
A Featured Cathedral Family
Member
For services and meetings, please use the drop down menu on the HOME page
Stephen Richmond
Married to Sandra, Stephen has two daughters and is very actively involved in all aspects of Cathedral life.
What is your background?
I grew up on Boa Island where I attended Kesh Primary School and went to Sunday school and worshipped in Muckross Parish Church. I attended Portora Royal School and then Belfast College of Technology achieving a Higher National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering.
And your employment history?
I started work in 1977 with Sir Richard Arkwright & Co in Lisnaskea, as a maintenance engineer I have been the engineering manager of both Lisnaskea and Fivemiletown Creameries.
What are you presently doing?
I am employed as an engineer surveyor with Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Company. I carry out safety inspections on items of lifting equipment, covering Fermanagh, Tyrone and South Donegal. I also travel regularly to Scotland and the Isle of Man.
Tell us about your family.
I am married to Sandra, a customer service advisor with BT, and we have two daughters, Stephanie who works as a pharmacist in Northumberland and Kerry who is studying occupational therapy at Northumbria University.
What about your involvement in Parish activities?
I am a member of the Select Vestry. I administer the chalice at our Holy Communion services. I am a Cub Scout Leader and also a member of the Cathedral bell ringing team. I assist with tea making at the family services.
What are your hobbies/interests?
I played rugby for Cavan RFC 1stXV and Enniskillen 1st XV. My biggest achievement on the sports field was winning the Forster cup with Cavan RFC for two consecutive years at Ravenhill. When my playing career finished, I got involved in refereeing both rugby and football. I am a member of Inniskilling Masonic Lodge no 744 and Old Portora Lodge no 859. I played the tuba in Murley band from Fivemiletown for over twenty years.
Do you travel?
I’ve had family holidays to Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands on numerous occasions. My travel highlights include city breaks to Rome, Krakow and New York.
Favourites in life—food/film/books?
Any dish that has red meat in it is a big favourite. I also have a liking for mince pies and iced fruitcake. "Dirty Harry", "Jaws" and "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" are films that I have watched many times. I enjoy reading sports books and true-life stories. I have read several books about Nazi war crimes and it was only when we visited Krakow and Auschwitz concentration camp that the enormity of what took place and what I had read about could be seen - such a moving experience.
What have been your best days to date?
Any days spent as a family now are special days but three of my best days have been the day I married Sandra in St Macartin’s and the days Stephanie and Kerry were born
Have you a favourite Bible verse/hymn?
I have many favourite hymns but my all time favourite has to be Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah. This was the sound track to a film I watched many years ago called "How Green Was My Valley", about a hard working Welsh family in the Welsh valleys. As the miners returned from the pits they sang this and it has stayed with me since. Psalm 150 comes to mind as it brings together all aspects of worship with the Psalmist telling us who is to be praised, why he is to be praised, who is to praise him and how he is to be praised.
Any challenges?
In my line of work each day brings a new challenge ensuring the safety of others, but one memorable challenge was climbing Croagh Patrick. Seeing the views from the summit was breathtaking.
I grew up on Boa Island where I attended Kesh Primary School and went to Sunday school and worshipped in Muckross Parish Church. I attended Portora Royal School and then Belfast College of Technology achieving a Higher National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering.
And your employment history?
I started work in 1977 with Sir Richard Arkwright & Co in Lisnaskea, as a maintenance engineer I have been the engineering manager of both Lisnaskea and Fivemiletown Creameries.
What are you presently doing?
I am employed as an engineer surveyor with Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Company. I carry out safety inspections on items of lifting equipment, covering Fermanagh, Tyrone and South Donegal. I also travel regularly to Scotland and the Isle of Man.
Tell us about your family.
I am married to Sandra, a customer service advisor with BT, and we have two daughters, Stephanie who works as a pharmacist in Northumberland and Kerry who is studying occupational therapy at Northumbria University.
What about your involvement in Parish activities?
I am a member of the Select Vestry. I administer the chalice at our Holy Communion services. I am a Cub Scout Leader and also a member of the Cathedral bell ringing team. I assist with tea making at the family services.
What are your hobbies/interests?
I played rugby for Cavan RFC 1stXV and Enniskillen 1st XV. My biggest achievement on the sports field was winning the Forster cup with Cavan RFC for two consecutive years at Ravenhill. When my playing career finished, I got involved in refereeing both rugby and football. I am a member of Inniskilling Masonic Lodge no 744 and Old Portora Lodge no 859. I played the tuba in Murley band from Fivemiletown for over twenty years.
Do you travel?
I’ve had family holidays to Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands on numerous occasions. My travel highlights include city breaks to Rome, Krakow and New York.
Favourites in life—food/film/books?
Any dish that has red meat in it is a big favourite. I also have a liking for mince pies and iced fruitcake. "Dirty Harry", "Jaws" and "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" are films that I have watched many times. I enjoy reading sports books and true-life stories. I have read several books about Nazi war crimes and it was only when we visited Krakow and Auschwitz concentration camp that the enormity of what took place and what I had read about could be seen - such a moving experience.
What have been your best days to date?
Any days spent as a family now are special days but three of my best days have been the day I married Sandra in St Macartin’s and the days Stephanie and Kerry were born
Have you a favourite Bible verse/hymn?
I have many favourite hymns but my all time favourite has to be Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah. This was the sound track to a film I watched many years ago called "How Green Was My Valley", about a hard working Welsh family in the Welsh valleys. As the miners returned from the pits they sang this and it has stayed with me since. Psalm 150 comes to mind as it brings together all aspects of worship with the Psalmist telling us who is to be praised, why he is to be praised, who is to praise him and how he is to be praised.
Any challenges?
In my line of work each day brings a new challenge ensuring the safety of others, but one memorable challenge was climbing Croagh Patrick. Seeing the views from the summit was breathtaking.
