Annalong Native Bessie Chambers Celebrates Remarkable 98th Birthday

Annalong native Bessie Chambers reached a remarkable milestone this week as she celebrated her 98th birthday, surrounded by family, friends, and well-wishers.

Bessie is a much-loved figure in the Mourne community, known for her lifelong dedication to charitable work. Her commitment was formally recognised when she was awarded an MBE for her services to charity.

A founding member of the Mourne Support Group Kilkeel, Bessie played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Southern Area Hospice 35 years ago. The group was initially formed on 7th November 1986 to raise funds for Northern Ireland Hospice and other local charities. However, when the need for a hospice in the Southern Area became clear, Bessie was among the first to lend her support — even attending early stakeholder meetings to advocate for its creation.

Since then, the Mourne Support Group has gone from strength to strength, recruiting many new members and raising hundreds of thousands of pounds to support hospice care in the local area — with Bessie proudly serving as its longest-standing member.

To mark her special day, Bessie was presented with a bouquet of flowers by James McCaffrey, Fundraising Officer at Evora Hospice, in recognition of her decades of tireless service and generosity.

Happy Birthday, Bessie — and thank you for everything you’ve done.