Ballymena: Wrightbus founder Sir William Wright dies

Sir William was described as "a giant character" by DUP MP Ian Paisley

Wrightbus founder and former unionist councillor Sir William Wright has died.

Sir William founded the Ballymena, County Antrim, bus manufacturing firm with his father, Robert, in a tin shed in 1946.

He was knighted in the Queen's 2018 New Years Honours for services to the economy and the bus industry.

DUP MP Ian Paisley said he was "one of the last true captains of industry and commerce and a man who has left his mark, not just locally but globally".

"Sir William was a giant character," added Mr Paisley.

"I have had the honour of knowing him and his family for decades. He was both a political and business leader.

"He cared passionately about the employment and skills training of local people. He loved Northern Ireland and he was dedicated in everything that he did."

Sir William met the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall when the couple visited a Wrightbus factory in 2013

Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) North Antrim assembly member Robin Swann said Sir William's death was a "tremendous loss, not just to his family circle but also to unionism, the business community, the Loyal Orders and the Christian Church".

"Sir William Wright will rank as one of north Antrim's most legendary figures," he said.

"He built Wrightbus into a global brand and his dedication to unionism was also known throughout the globe, especially in his past role as a Ballymena councillor."

Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader and North Antrim assembly member, Jim Allister, said Sir William was "an iconic giant in Ballymena and Northern Ireland".

"No-one has left a more endeavoured mark on the economy than Sir William," Mr Allister said.

"Many people had very good jobs in Ballymena and got many years of employment thanks to his contribution.

"He was also very much involved in the local community, he served as a councillor at a time and was very prominent in his faith."

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In 2019, Wrightbus was at the centre of a storm over Green Pastures Church in Ballymena.

Sir William's son, Jeff, was majority shareholder of Wrightbus and pastor at the church at the time.

When Wrightbus went into administration, the family cited a fall in demand for buses as the reason for the collapse of the business, but many workers expressed concern that money donated to the church had weakened the business.

Sir William Wright was applauded by many Wrightbus employees who protested over job losses in 2019

Patricia O'Lynn, Alliance Party MLA for North Antrim, said "many constituents/friends have been employed by Wrightbus throughout the years".

"A major aspect of his legacy will be the industrial advancement of electric/hydrogen-powered buses."

She sent her condolences to Sir William's loved ones.

Translink chief executive Chris Conway said that Sir William "made a huge contribution to the bus industry globally and the NI economy" and described his passing as "very sad news".

Ballymena United Football Club sent their "deepest sympathies to the Wright family".