Social Partner
Community/Voluntary Representative

Retired

Pamela Arlow-Johnston has lived and worked in the Banbridge area all of her life and now devotes most of her time to doing voluntary work for the local community. She has held the role of Leader in Charge for more than two decades with local charity, Banbridge Gateway Club. She opted to become a member of The Bridge Partnership because she wants to help many other groups in the District benefit from The Bridge Partnership like the Banbridge Gateway Club benefited from the former Banbridge District Partnership.

Pamela’s community and voluntary work has been a key part of her life. Her commitment and dedication is reflected in the large number of community service awards she has received.

She has done voluntary work for many other organisations including St. John’s Ambulance, Secretary of Abercorn Primary School Parent/Teachers Association for 5 years, Secretary of the former Banbridge Hospital Action Group, Secretary of Banbridge Community Network, Vice-Chairperson and Regional Chairperson of the Federation of Gateway Clubs, Regional Festival Director for Northern Ireland Gateway Clubs Festival of the Performing Arts, member of the Executive Committee of the National Festival of the Performing Arts, Director and Conductor of Banbridge Gateway Drama Troupe and Makaton Choir, and a member of the Banbridge Host Town Committee for the Special Olympics in 2003 and Championship Organiser of Northern Ireland Gateway Clubs Disco Dance Championships.

Before retiring, Pamela balanced a career with rearing a large family and worked for Bannvale Social Education Centre between 1989 and 1998 as a day care employee. Prior to this, she worked for Donard School as a guide assistant from 1976 and in this role she learned how satisfying it was to help those in need. Pamela also worked part-time as a Supervisory Assistant at Banbridge High School until 1989. Before starting a family, she worked as a P.A. to the Executive Director of Eltico Mills, based in Seapatrick. She commenced her working career in 1956 as a junior secretary with Down Shoes Ltd.

Pamela has seven children and eighteen grandchildren. In her free time she enjoys writing poetry and short stories, playing the keyboard, chequers, backgammon, cribbage and chess. She also presents for Shine FM, the local community radio station.