Ivan Davis: Tributes pour in for ‘man of the people’

Mr Davis represented the DUP and later the UUP at both Lisburn Council and the Northern Ireland Assembly.

He was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List in 2004 and made a Freeman of the City of Lisburn in 2009.

Alderman Alan Ewart, a DUP councillor on Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, said he was a “man of integrity”.

“I’ve known Ivan for over 30 years and he was well respected in the community.

“Everybody knew Ivan Davis in Lisburn and I would like to pass on my sympathies to Betty and the family circle.”

Former UUP party colleagues and father and son councillors David Archer Senior and David Archer Jnr said Mr Davis was a “man of the people”.

“He was fearless in representing those that he was elected to fight for,” they added.

“He was a councillor during the Troubles when in the absence of an Assembly people like Ivan Davis held the line.

“Without a doubt he was the best councillor Lisburn and Northern Ireland has ever seen and his senior role in the Northern Ireland Assembly after the Belfast Agreement as UUP Chief Whip should not be forgotten.”

Born in Lisburn, Mr Davis was first elected to Lisburn Borough Council in 1973, representing the DUP.

He was also elected to represent South Antrim at the 1982 NI Assembly election.

In 1987, Mr Davis joined the UUP and served as Mayor of Lisburn from 1991 to 1993.

He was elected for Lagan Valley at the NI Forum election in 1996 held this seat at the 1998 election and became UUP chief whip.