William Wright

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Sir William Thompson Wright (September 1927 – 24 July 2022) was a Northern Irish business owner and former Unionist politician. Wright grew up in Ballymena.

In the 1970s, Wright joined the Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party, and was elected as its Chairman.[1] He stood for the party in North Antrim at the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention election in 1975, and was elected.[2] He later followed the party leaders in joining the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), and was elected to Ballymena Borough Council.

In the 2011 Birthday Honours, he was awarded the CBE. In the 2018 Queen's Honours list, he received a knighthood.[3] He died in the early hours of 24 July 2022.[4]

References[change | change source]

  1. Ted Nealon, Northern Ireland: A Parliamentary Directory, p.227
  2. "North Antrim 1973-1982", Northern Ireland Elections
  3. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/671144/NY18_Queens_List_-_Final_.pdf
  4. Rutherford, Adrian (24 July 2022). "'Ballymena has lost a giant': Tributes paid as Wrightbus founder Sir William Wright dies aged 94". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 24 July 2022.