A BANGOR woman has said she thought a letter informing her she had been
included in the New Year Honours list was ‘a scam’.
Elizabeth Hamilton has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), which she described as an ‘honour’.
Ms Hamilton has been a security guard at Stormont Castle for 24 years, and received the
MBE for public service.
She revealed how when she opened the letter from the Cabinet Office, informing her she was named in this New Year Honours, she ‘thought she had done something wrong’ and believed it was a scam.
A phone call confirmed it was in fact not a hoax, and Ms Hamilton expressed her disbelief: “I am only a security guard,” she responded.
The security guard at Parliament Buildings has greeted visitors from all over the world, and while she often has to explain Stormont Castle itself is out of bounds to the public, she suggests they take in the seat of the Northern Ireland Executive ‘for
a cup of tea or a meal.’
Ms Hamilton said she agreed with visitors who speak of the ‘beautiful surroundings’ of Stormont.
