MBE for services to lough community

MBE for services to lough community

18 June 2014

A PORTAFERRY woman has credited her community with news that she will be granted an MBE in the autumn.

Mrs. Eveleigh Brownlow has been included on the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for voluntary services to her community.

Mrs. Brownlow is an active fundraiser for Portaferry RNLI, which boasts a 

modern seafront boathouse, as well as being patron of Downpatrick Race Course, of which her husband, the late Major William Brownlow, was former chairman.

The Brownlows were instrumental in saving the local course after Major Brownlow determined that he would fight a government decision that Northern Ireland only needed one racecourse and nominated Down Royal as the sole venue.

With the limited government funding withdrawn, Major Brownlow formed the Downpatrick Supporters Club — members of which are still associated with the course today.

Mrs. Brownlow has fond memories of working for the club to keep the race course afloat and remembers hours spent operating the bar and catering facilities, gaining the support of local farmers, fishermen and butchers to provide the food, while directors dipped into their own pockets at times to supply prize money for races.

The group’s hard work and efforts ensured the survival of racing in Downpatrick until the introduction of the Northern Ireland Horse Racing Fund, which brought significant improvements for both Ulster courses.

Although Mrs. Brownlow is 

recognised throughout the wider community for her dedication to the RNLI and the Downpatrick Race Course, she is perhaps less known for her work for the Portaferry craft shop The Port, which she opened to support the talent of local artists.

Born in Newcastle, Mrs. Brownlow says Portaferry immediately felt like home when she first moved there after her marriage and she believes its people are to thank for her MBE.

“Since I moved to Portaferry I was made to feel very much at home by the people, who are exceptional,” she says.

“Portaferry is a place apart. The people have been very generous to me and the community really is amazing.

“I am very humbled to be included on the Honours List and do not feel I deserve it at all.

“There are so many people out there who should get awards and are never acknowledged. In my case I am lucky that people persevered to get me onto the Honours list.”