Former Lord Lieutenant for County Antrim Mrs Joan Christie CVO, has sadly passed away following a tragic car accident, It has been announced.
Serving as lord-Lieutenant, of County Antrim, from 2008 – 2019, Mrs Christie was also bestowed the Freedom of the Borough for Causeway Coast & Glens, Mid & East Antrim and the city of Lisburn & Castlereagh Councils, for her dedication to a life of public service.
Tributes have already begun to pour in this morning from across the County, with Bushmills British Legion writing: “We are extremely saddened and heartbroken this morning to learn of the passing of our dear friend & former Lord Lieutenant for Co.Antrim, Mrs Joan Christie CVO.
“We offer our deepest sympathy to her family and trust that God will comfort them in their time of sorrow. Being a regular attendee at our Branch events over the years she will be sadly missed by us all.”
Another social media post this morning read: “Mrs Joan Christie, a person who devoted herself to helping others a people’s person. Joan was as happy to be with “The ordinary people “ as she was with Royalty. Joan will be missed by all that knew her. Our deepest sympathy to her son and daughters and her entire family circle.”
Mrs Christie who hosted many members of the Royal Family during their visits to Northern Ireland — including the late Queen — received the honours of MBE, OBE and more recently the Commander of the Victorian Order (CVO). The CVO is a private honour distributed by the monarchy.
The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman, Wing Commander, Noel Williams, has paid tribute to the “inspirational” and “selfless” former Lord-Lieutenant for the County of Antrim, Mrs Joan Christie CVO OBE.
The Mayor said: “I am deeply shocked by the untimely death of Mrs Christie and my thoughts are first and foremost with her devastated family and many friends.
“Mrs Christie had a strong affinity with Mid and East Antrim and she was close to the hearts of many of our citizens for her vital and often life-changing work within our community.
“Indeed, so valued was Mrs Christie that in 2018 she was bestowed the highest honour our Council could grant – the Freedom of Mid and East Antrim Borough.
“I am proud that as first citizen of Mid and East Antrim I have a portrait of Mrs Christie hanging in my Mayor’s Parlour in the Braid, Ballymena – the headquarters of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.
“As Her late Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant, Mrs Christie demonstrated unwavering dedication, and she carried out her duties with grace and enthusiasm. She was particularly interested in our young people and was inspirational and selfless when it came to working to improve the lives and opportunities afforded to the citizens of County Antrim.
“She was a strong advocate and champion for our Armed Forces, and she had particularly close links to the North Irish Horse, with which her late husband Dan served.
“Joan was devoted to her family and had moved to be closer with them in Greenisland near Carrickfergus.
“I had the privilege of having known Joan extremely well for many years through my interactions with her as the Lord-Lieutenant and through the RAF Association veterans’ charity, of which I am the chairman in Northern Ireland.
“Joan was a regular attendee at our social events and regularly launched the Wings Appeal campaign for the Carrickfergus branch each September.
“She was a stalwart to Mid and East Antrim since its formation in 2015, and before that to the legacy councils of Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne.”
The Mayor concluded: “Mrs Christie’s family will of course be grief stricken and suffering immeasurable pain at the loss of a beloved mother and grandmother.
“Her death will be felt right across this Borough as well as the other councils that are within, or are part of County Antrim. They too will have enjoyed the enormous support of Joan in her Lieutenancy role and will be saddened by the incredible loss she is to a very wide community.
“My thoughts are with Joan’s family and the whole of the population of County Antrim, to whom I offer my deepest sympathy.”
