Sam Gardiner Explained

Sam Gardiner
Honorific-Suffix:MBE, JP
Office:Father of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Term Start:5 May 2011
Term End:5 May 2016
Constituency Am1:Upper Bann
Assembly1:Northern Ireland
Term Start1:26 November 2003
Term End1:30 March 2016
Predecessor1:George Savage
Successor1:Doug Beattie
Office2:Mayor of
Craigavon
Term Start2:2001
Term End2:2002
Predecessor2:Fred Crowe
Term Start3:1988
Term End3:1989
Predecessor3:Sydney Cairns
Successor3:James McCammick
Term Start4:1982
Term End4:1983
Predecessor4:Mary Simpson
Successor4:James Gillespie
Office5:Member of
Craigavon Borough Council
Constituency5:Lurgan
Term Start5:21 May 1997
Term End5:5 May 2011
Predecessor5:Audrey Savage
Successor5:Jo-Anne Dobson
Constituency6:Lurgan
Term Start6:15 May 1985
Term End6:17 May 1989
Predecessor6:District created
Successor6:Audrey Savage
Constituency7:Craigavon Area D
Term Start7:20 May 1981
Term End7:15 May 1985
Predecessor7:James Baird
Successor7:District abolished
Office8:Ulster Unionist Whip in the Northern Ireland Forum
Leader8:David Trimble
Term Start8:1996
Term End8:1998
Predecessor8:Office created
Successor8:Office abolished
Office9:Northern Ireland Forum Member
for Upper Bann
Term Start9:30 May 1996
Term End9:25 April 1998
Predecessor9:New forum
Successor9:Forum dissolved
Office10:Mayor of Lurgan
Term Start10:1968
Term End10:1969
Office11:Member of
Lurgan Borough Council
Term Start11:1963
Term End11:1973
Successor11:Council abolished
Birth Date:24 March 1940
Birth Place:Lurgan, County Armagh, Northern Ireland
Nationality:British
Party:Ulster Unionist Party
Spouse:Elizabeth Gardiner
Children:Clive
Keith
Residence:Lurgan, County Armagh
Website:Gardiner UUP

Alderman Samuel Gardiner MBE JP (24 March 1940 – 8 November 2022) was a Northern Irish Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) politician who was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Upper Bann from 2003 to 2016.

Background

Gardiner was elected to Lurgan Borough Council (now Craigavon Borough Council) in 1963 and held office of mayor in that borough in 1968.[1] He was mayor of Craigavon 1982/3, 1988/9 and 2000/1.

Gardiner was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum and was party whip in the same in 1996–1998.[2]

Gardiner was elected to the Assembly in 2003. He served on the Environmental, Leisure Services and Public Services Liaison Committees and was the UUP spokesperson on environment. As the oldest Northern Ireland Assembly member, Gardiner also served as Father of the House, a role which includes presiding over the election of a new Speaker of the Assembly.[3]

Gardiner was a High Sheriff for County Armagh and was appointed a justice of the peace. He was also a member of the Orange Order, Deputy Sovereign Grand Master of the Royal Black Institution and former chairman of Glenavon F.C..

Gardiner died on 8 November 2022, at the age of 82.[4]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Biography – Sam Gardiner . 2016-07-27 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20080905164211/http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/members/biogs_07/gardiner_s.htm . 5 September 2008 .
  2. Web site: Biography – Sam Gardiner . 2007-05-05 . 2016-07-27 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20070505100046/http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/members/biogs_07/gardiner_s.htm . 5 May 2007 .
  3. Web site: The ITV Hub – The home of ITV . U.tv . 2016-07-27 . dead . https://archive.today/20141013142650/http://www.u.tv/News/Assembly-votes-against-SF-Speaker/90322a79-6be2-4d6e-a5ea-f68addd7b5d7 . 13 October 2014 .
  4. News: McKenna . Michael . Former Craigavon Mayor and Upper Bann MLA Sammy Gardiner passes away . 8 November 2022 . Armagh i . 8 November 2022.