Bertie Fisher, who died on January 22nd aged 50, was one of Ireland's leading rally drivers over the past 20 years and managing director of Fisher Engineering Ltd, a structural steel and engineering business started by his father Tommy. Bertie Fisher had cut back on rallying over the last two years to concentrate on the business he ran with his brothers, Ernest and Ivan, and his father. However, he had planned a limited programme of events this year, including the Circuit of Ireland at Easter.
Bertie Fisher will be especially remembered for his great battles with fellow rally driver Austin McHale and others. He was always one of the pacesetters on the stages, sometimes pushing too hard, which cost him a number of rally victories, including the Manx International in the Isle of Man which he won and subsequently lost only hours later on a protest.
For all of that, his list of wins was very impressive and includes three Circuit of Ireland, and a record six wins on his favourite event, the Killarney Rally of The Lakes.
Bertie Fisher also held the record of Irish international rally wins, beating the records held by Billy Coleman and Jimmy McRae. He won his first of four Tarmac Championships in 1990 in a BMW M3; in 1992 and 1993 he drove a Subaru Legacy RS, and in 1996 he was at the wheel of a Subaru Impreza.
Born at Ballinamallard on March 25th, 1950, Bertie Fisher was educated at the local primary school and later at the Enniskillen Technical Institute. Both his father Tommy and mother Elsie (nee Richardson) were natives of Co Leitrim. During the second World War, his father served in the RAF and was a Japanese prisoner of war. After he was demobbed at Castlearchdale in 1946 (close to the Fisher's family home at Killadeas, on the shores of Lough Erne), he decided to settle across the Border at Ballinamallard and there established a small welding and forging company making gates and farm implements.
Bertie Fisher joined the business as a 16-year-old, and went on to develop it, with his father, making it into one of the biggest steel construction companies in these islands. Fisher Engineering was involved in the construction of such buildings as Belfast's Waterfront Hall and the Odyssey Arena.
"He was an outstanding businessman, an outstanding sportsman, a great family man and a great churchman," said one Ballinamallard community leader.
Bertie Fisher was dedicated to his childhood sweetheart Gladys, his family, the business, and the close-knit community in Ballinamallard. One of his schemes to boost the area involved bringing the Ulster Rally into the village for a breakfast stopover. His wife and her friends provided food and all proceeds went to the local church restoration fund.
For a time, he played trombone with the Ballinamallard Silver Band, and dabbled at both golf and fishing, but Bertie Fisher was addicted to rallysport.
"A fine and honest competitor in motorsport and a generous benefactor to many charitable causes," said a spokesman for the Ulster Automobile Club.
His ability to make a powerful rally car dance and dart at high speed on a closed road stage was what made him popular with rally fans throughout Ireland and even further afield. Courage and control were his trademarks.
He was greatly admired by his fellow competitors for his sense of fair play and sportsmanship. And, when he was not in a rally car, he was involved with bodies within the sport such as the Enniskillen Motor Club, the Association of Northern Ireland Car Clubs or the Irish Rally Competitors' Association.
Bertie Fisher was highly competitive, but he was always willing to offer advice to even his closest opponents. There was always the strong handshake and the warm friendly smile. He was an ambassador for the sport he adored and adorned, while forever enjoying a sporting challenge. And when he wasn't competing he was never slow to help out behind the scenes, whether acting as a safety officer or sponsoring an event such as last year's Summit 2000.
Bertie Fisher had only recently bought a new rally car to enable him to participate in events in 2001. He is survived by his wife Gladys, son Roy, parents Tommy and Elsie and brothers Ernest, Ivan and Kenny. He was predeceased by his son Mark and daughter Emma.
Bertie Fisher: born 1950; died, January 2001