New Year Honours 2026: MBE for Broughshane woman and Girls' Brigade stalwart Beth
A County Antrim woman has been named in the King’s New Year Honours list for her services to Education and to the Girls’ Brigade.
Beth Purdy, a Business Support Officer with the Education Authority Northern Ireland, was recognised with an MBE.
Beth has worked in a number of administrative roles for the EA, and its forerunner the North Eastern Education and Library Board, since 1991.
Her association with the Girls’ Brigade, meanwhile, stretches back to her early childhood. “I’ve been involved with 2nd Broughshane GB for 50 years, since I was a Tiny Tot,” Beth said.
Occupying a number of roles over the years, ranging from Officer to Assistant Commissioner in the early 2000s, Beth was most recently Captain of 2nd Broughshane GB.
She stepped down from that role after 24 years when the Company marked its 50th anniversary in March 2025.
The Broughshane resident said she was “surprised, shocked and humbled” to receive the news of the MBE in late November.
However, she is delighted that the Honour is shining a light on the continued good work of an organisation that she describes as very close to her heart.
"It’s the Girls’ Brigade I’m really delighted for; this award, to me, is for the volunteers that work within GBNI and all the brilliant volunteers in Broughshane,” Beth said.
“The main thing is just seeing the girls coming into a church organisation to learn more about God; we never take for granted the amount of girls that are coming through the doors.”
More than 50 people representing sport, local government and the community across Northern Ireland were recognised in the 2026 New Year Honours list.