Former Carrick mayoress will be '˜sadly missed'

Mrs. Hamilton was mayoress from 1995 untl 1996 when husband Billy, an Independent councillor, was mayor.

During his term as First Citizen, the couple had the honour of welcoming His Royal Highness Prince Andrew to the Borough of Carrickfergus for the 50th VE Day anniversary celebrations.

Staff at Hawthorns Adult Centre where she worked as a domestic said that she will be “sadly missed”.

Mrs. Hamilton was described as a “friend and colleague” who has been credited with raising thousands of pounds for Hawthorns.

She was said to have gone “beyond the call of duty” in her care of clients and greeting everyone with a warm welcome and a smile.

Senior day care worker Thomas Haighton said: “For well over ten years, Beatrice tirelessly fundraised for Hawthorns and would regularly make up baskets and hampers for Christmas and Easter at her own expense.

“You often hear people say that someone is a “good person” or they “have a heart of gold – Beatrice truly was a good person and had a heart of gold.”

Son Alan said that she could not walk past a charity collection box without making a donation.

She was a keen supporter of the Gingerbread and PHAB charities.

Beatice was a past pupil of Sunnylands Primary School and Carrickfergus Intermediate School before taking up an apprenticeship with a bakery and moving on to factory work and childminding in later years. She had also been employed at the Clarion Hotel as a domestic and then at Hawthorns.

Alan added: “She will be sadly missed especially by her family. I just take heart that she was my mum.

“She would have been completely overwhelmed by the support of the community for us and by the messages of support from as far away as Canada and Australia and different parts of the world.”

Beatrice died suddenly on Saturday May 6. Her funeral service was held at Carrickfergus Congregational Church followed by burial at Victoria Cemetery.

She is survived by husband Billy, sons Alan and Andrew and daughters Deborah and Leeane.