A PORTAFERRY woman, awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for voluntary services to her community, was at Buckingham Palace recently to receive her award.
Mrs. Eveleigh 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With the limited government funding withdrawn, Major Brownlow formed the Downpatrick Supporters Club — members of which are still associated with the course today.
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 believes its people are to thank for her MBE.