Phyllis Galloway and her inspirational 75 years as a Loyal Orangewoman

Phyllis, who is a member of Sister Turtle Memorial WLOL 14 in Ballymena, said: “The concert on Saturday night was really good, but I didn’t enjoy my wee bit because I didn’t know anything about it. It was a big, big surprise and I’m not a girl for surprises.

"I had to get up on the platform and the man asked me a few questions. It was nice to get the award but I’m glad it’s over.”

Of her 75 years in the Orange Order, Phyllis, a widow of 18 years, said: “At the minute in Co Antrim I think I’m maybe the longest serving person but I don’t know.

“I joined the juniors when I was around 17. Then I went on up into the seniors. I’ve held every position, right up through to the mistress of our lodge.

"I just loved being part of it, being among all my friends. When I joined there was maybe 50 or 60 people going to it. I still go to the meetings.

"I love my lodge and everybody that goes to it. I enjoy being part of it.”

Phyllis, who is also a member of St John’s Ambulance for more than 70 years, was born in Portadown but was only a year old when her family came to Ballymena.

Asked if she still marches on the Twelfth she said: “It’s two years since I walked since I fell and broke my leg and wasn’t able to walk any more. I was in a car last year on the Twelfth day.”

Also at the awards, Glenageeragh Pipe Band struck the right note with the judges by winning the Band of the Year award.

Like Phyllis the band from Augher has been connected to the Orange Order for 75 years.

David Mulligan from the band said: “We’re very much family orientated. There’s a father along with his four daughters that play in the band. It’s common theme within the band.

"We have farmers, teachers, nursing staff, students. We’re not able to go every weekend and contest, we try and get out as much as we can.”

David said: “Historically the lodge (Glenageeragh LOL No 908) had a flute band but after the war (World War Two) some of the members were down at Omagh seeing the Royal Inniskillings coming home and they played the Brian Boru bagpipe which is the Irish pipe that we currently play.

“The notion was to become a pipe band as opposed to a flute band. They started out in 1948 with six pipers and three drummers. There’s only six Brian Boru pipe bands left in Northern Ireland.

"Our numbers are as strong as they every have been – we’ve 23 at full strength.”