Members share poignant tributes to former colleague and late Mayor, Braid DUP Alderman Beth Adger MBE

The late Ald Beth Adger MBE, former Mayor of Mid and East Antrim who died recently.

Mid and East Antrim councillors stood to observe a moment’s silence in the council chamber at The Braid, in Ballymena, on Monday evening, March 31, in memory of former colleague and late Mayor, Braid DUP Alderman Beth Adger MBE.

The meeting was reconvened to Thursday evening (April 3) as a mark of respect to the former first citizen who passed away on March 18.

In his opening remarks at this week’s meeting, the Deputy Mayor, Ballymena Sinn Feinn Cllr Breanainn Lyness, said:

“It is with great sadness, I extend my condolences on the death of the Mayor, Alderman Mrs Beth Adger who passed away earlier this month. The Mayor was a devoted public servant, a compassionate mother to so many and a leader within our community.

“Beth welcomed me into the role of Deputy Mayor and we have worked well together. I respected her faith and determination. It is a pity we did not get to finish our term together. God bless.”

DUP group leader Larne Lough Councillor Gregg McKeen said:

“Firstly on behalf of the Democratic Unionist Party, may I pass on our sincere condolences to Beth’s husband Tommy, her children and great-grandchildren and the entire family circle.

“Beth’s untimely passing will be felt far and wide throughout the borough but mostly by her family. Her family will miss that warmth of her presence at home in everything she did.

“Beth, when you were talking to her was so proud of her family, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She came into members ‘ (room) many’s a time sharing photographs of the twins as they have grown up and I think, her passing to the family will be really felt the most.

“But I suppose in her council role, within this chamber, Beth will be missed as well. Beth always had something to offer. She got her point of view across in the chamber in a very nice polite way that you knew where Beth stood on any given subject and especially when you looked at others who needed help and support the most, Beth was always there championing their cause.

“Beth also, within the chamber, took the role of councillor very seriously and if you had known Beth, as long as I have known her, she very rarely ever missed a meeting.

“She was there no matter what and travelling all across the country and attended various bodies she belonged to, NILGA, ASPE and various other committees, Beth was always there.

“She gave the role 100 per cent. When Beth started something, it was with 100 per cent commitment and she represented what she was doing and she worked for all the people of Mid and East Antrim.

“The culmination of her career as Deputy Mayor and finally, in her role as Mayor, which she had really worked for over the past number of years to get to that role and it is so sad now to have got to that role and she did not see out her full term.

“She will be missed in the community that she represented.  Beth supported and worked with local community groups, she was on school board of governors, she was a member of her own local church and various other charities and she was always the one who was fighting for those who needed help and support the most.

“Beth will be sadly missed by all of us in here and the legacy that Beth has left will be something that will be remembered for many years to come, through the work that she has done as a councillor, family member and as a mother.

“As a mark of respect. I propose we adjourn in Beth’s memory to a date later on this week.”

Cllr McKeen’s proposal was seconded by the Deputy Mayor that the meeting would be adjourned until April 3.

Braid Alliance Cllr Chelsea Harwood stated:

“I’d just like to take a moment to extend mine and the Alliance Party’s deep and heartfelt condolences to Beth’s husband Tommy and her loved ones.

“Beth lived her life in servitude, to her family, to her constituents and to her faith and her unwavering commitment will long be remembered in the Braid DEA and beyond.

“When she shared some of her story at her installation, last year, I was struck by her incredible strength in the face of adversity and challenges and the way she took all of those things in her stride to make her the confident, strong and loving woman she was.

“Her loss will be profound and for those closest to her and we, as a council, admire her for it. As a councillor of my DEA, her unyielding work ethic was known far and wide by the community sharing stories of who she was as a person and as a councillor.”

Braid Sinn Fein Cllr Archie Rae said:

“I was saddened to hear of the passing of Mayor Beth Adger on 18th March. Please note that Sinn Fein in Mid and East Antrim pass on our deepest condolences to the family and colleagues in the DUP.

“Beth will always be remembered for her impact on council and charities that she supported. May she rest in peace.”

Coast Road Ulster Unionist Alderman Maureen Morrow said:

“Beth was a friend who I had known from childhood. We both went to the same school, Aghagash Primary School and she had been in my life since I was a child and she would  have brought her family up to the Sunday School and meetings in Carnalbanagh, a place that she loved dearly and we all had a lot of time for her. She will be sadly missed by many people in the area. I want to offer my condolences to the family.”

Knockagh DUP Cllr Peter Johnston said:

“Beth was always very encouraging to me especially during my time as Mayor and she was always very quick to keep me in line but she did so in such a lovely way that Beth only could and I thought it was very touching, not only the number of people who turned up to her funeral, but also the amount of cross-party support and I think that was a testament to her politics and how she did business. It was very fitting.”

Larne Lough Ulster Unionist Cllr Roy Beggs also passed on his condolences to Beth’s family and friends who grieve her loss.

He stated: “Beth was always approachable and was clearly very dedicated to her role as councillor and also in her role as mayor. I learned at her funeral her dedication to her family and the many many young people that she would have fostered and to whom she provided a stable home.

“In her role as Mayor, she had the confidence of the chamber. She always acted fairly, giving everyone an equal opportunity to make their points and for that, she had everyone’s respect.”

Ballymena TUV Cllr Matthew Armstrong extended the condolences of the TUV to Beth’s husband and family, friends and wider family circle.

He added: “I often thought that when Beth was carrying out her council duties and attending so many meetings, in England and further afield, I often wondered where she got the energy from and quite frankly, it would put some people to shame in how she was able to give the commitment and dedication to a role, one in which she excelled and one which she clearly derived a great deal of enjoyment from.”

Ballymena DUP Cllr Lawrie Philpott described Ald Adger as a “true pillar to the Braid DEA, Mid and East Antrim and the borough council”.

He continued “Beth’s passing while still in service has left a profound void in our chamber and our whole community. For over two decades, Beth dedicated her life to serving the people of the Braid, Ballymena and now in recent times, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.

“Her commitment was unwavering and her passion for progress was undeniable. She was a constant presence, a steadying hand and a voice of reason to all in our council chamber. Her commitment was not just a job, it was her calling.”

Bannside Ulster Unionist Cllr Jackson Minford said:

“I remember Beth not only as a councillor but a very good friend and someone I have known for years and I am very sorry to hear of her passing.”

Braid DUP Ald William McCaughey commented:

“Beth’s public service was over her lifetime. Some of us will sit in here for a number of years and do our best to serve the public as best we can but Beth’s service was over a lifetime.

“Her health was very poor when she was very young, and one of the pilots of chemotherapy - Beth put herself forward for that without hesitation and she was granted a very long and prosperous life thereafter.”

He also pointed out that she fostered almost 50 children during her lifetime. He went on to say that Beth convinced him to put his name forward as a council candidate.

“She was proud that any committee she sat on, she attended to the best of her ability with a tremendous sense of responsibility,” he stated.

As a final mark of respect, Ald McCaughey requested that members stood for a moment’s silence.

Larne Lough Ald Paul Reid remarked:

“This chamber will never forget the ‘city’ of Carnalbanagh. She would never let you forget where Carnalbanagh was. She was always proud of her roots and proud that she represented the people she loved here in Mid and East Antrim.”