MBE for Belfast Cathedral Warden

Wednesday January 7th 2026

Phyllis Forster MBE.

Many congratulations to Phyllis Forster who was awarded an MBE in the King’s New Year Honours for services to the community in Northern Ireland.

Phyllis is a member of St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, where she is People’s Warden and a member of the Cathedral Board. Phyllis was the first female to hold the role of Warden in the Cathedral and followed in the footsteps of her late father, Tom Dawson, who also was a Warden and Board member.

A native of Belfast, she has been a lifelong parishioner of St Anne’s and her two brothers, as well as her two sons, are all former Head Choristers.

Phyllis Forster MBE (foreground) in her role as People’s Warden during a service in Belfast Cathedral.

Phyllis works part-time in a managerial position, and earlier in her career was a Marie Curie nurse on the home care team and in later years a lecturer in Belfast Met.

She has volunteered with a wide range of organisations in different fields for more than 40 years and said the award of MBE was ‘a great privilege.’

“Because I enjoy working in the community and helping other people, I never thought about my work being recognised and so I feel very honoured,” Phyllis said.