Down Lieutenancy
Dr Ivor Cairns was appointed High Sheriff for County Down in January 2026.
Pictured L-R: Professor Mike Mawhinney (High Sheriff Co Down 2023 and Hon Secretary of High Sheriffs’ Association of NI); HMLL Gawn Rowan Hamilton; Vice Lord-Lieutenant Catherine Champion; Pete Leckey (High Sheriff Co Down 2025); Peter Mackie (Chair High Sheriffs’ Association of NI).
400 years of the Presbyterian Church in Ballywalter were celebrated in March with a series of events over several days. The Vice Lord-Lieutenant is pictured with (L-R) Billy Carlisle of Ballywalter Historical Society; historian Dr William Roulston (who gave a talk on the first minister James Hamilton) and Reverend Gareth Simpson the current minister.
Picture Credit: Newtownards Chronicle
The Vice Lord-Lieutenant Catherine Champion attended the Federation of Women’s Institutes Ards Peninsula Area Group ‘Afternoon of Christmas Music and Readings’ at Ballyblack Presbyterian Church. The choirs of Ballyblack WI and Quoile Area led the service. The collection was in aid of Ards and North Down Women’s Aid and FWINI (Federation of Women’s Institutes of Northern Ireland).
L-R Christine Rankin (Ards Area Executive Member); Anne Beggs (Ards Area President); Vice Lord-Lieutenant; Mayor of Ards and North Down Councillor Gillian McCollum; Emalyn Turkington (CEO North Down and Ards Women’s Aid); Brenda Richardson (Federation Chair of FWINI).
Picture Credit: Newtownards Chronicle
The Vice Lord-Lieutenant Catherine Champion attended a service to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the forming of the Air Training Corps (5th February 1941) at St Andrews Presbyterian Church, Bangor.
The Vice Lord-Lieutenant, Catherine Champion, laid the first wreath at the War Memorial in Holywood on Remembrance Sunday. Many wreaths were laid by individuals and organisations. She is pictured with Holywood Primary School Principal, Dr Graham Walker, and the P7 members of the Student Council who laid a wreath, Theo, Annie and Claire.