We are very sad to announce that Hilary Bracefield, one of our long-standing volunteer guides, who was a most knowledgeable expert on all things New Zealand, has passed away after a lengthy illness. Our thoughts are with her sister Lindsay and relatives back in her native New Zealand. All our volunteers who had the privilege of serving at Ballance House alongside Hilary will miss her very much. She will be laid to rest privately at Ballyclare. Hilary had requested that any donations in her memory should be made to UNZT.
Hilary was one of the Trust’s longest-serving volunteers and, as such, was most recently interviewed at the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service ceremony in June 2019. She was particularly instrumental in organising musical concerts and recitals, involving choirs from the University of Ulster, with the Trust’s founder, Jill McIvor, in the early 1990s.
She was a doughty, proud Kiwi who had a keen, if waspish, sense of humour and heart of gold. She never forgot her roots and poured so much of her multifaceted personality and time into the Ulster New Zealand Trust. Hilary’s memory of the smallest details was impressive and invaluable in her role as tour guide at The Ballance House.
We will always remember her annual playing of the New Zealand National Anthem each Waitangi Day on the Barn piano which was often unreliable in its keyboard actions. Only a couple of years ago she gave a succinct, beautifully illustrated and well researched talk, at that early February celebration which meant so much to her, on the songs enjoyed by Anzac and international members of the Forces during World Wars - a topic that few in the world could have given - and none with the same panache and obvious enjoyment with which Hilary delivered it, always sensitive to the supreme sacrifices paid by thousands of serving men and women.
Hilary Bracefield was a stalwart of our Ulster New Zealand Trust at The Ballance House family and an outstanding representative of her native country who will never be forgotten by those of us who had the privilege of knowing and working alongside her.
Fellow volunteers of Hilary’s remember her fondly,
“A lovely lady, a joy to volunteer with, and who had a gentle sense of humour and real interest in people;
“She made a wonderful contribution to all the varied events at Ballance House, her warm, animated personality will be remembered for years;
“A great companion on Sunday afternoons, she was deeply committed to UNZT”.
The Directors, volunteers and general membership of the UNZT would like to pass on our deepest sympathy to her sister and relatives in New Zealand and to all her friends in Northern Ireland.
Hilary very generously nominated the Ulster New Zealand Trust to receive donations in her memory. If you would like to make a donation, there is a Donate button on the homepage or a cheque can be sent to The Ballance House, 118a Lisburn Road, Glenavy. BT29 4NY. Thank you.
