Ken Robinson (Northern Ireland politician)

Ken Robinson (2 June 1942 – 4 October 2022) was an Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) politician who was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for East Antrim from 1998 to 2011.

Ken Robinson
Mayor of Newtownabbey
In office
1991–1992
Member of Newtownabbey Borough Council
In office
19 May 1993 – 22 May 2014
Preceded byDistrict created
Succeeded byCouncil abolished
ConstituencyUniversity
In office
15 May 1985 – 19 May 1993
Preceded byDistrict created
Succeeded byDistrict abolished
ConstituencyShore Road
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
for Antrim East
In office
25 June 1998 – 5 May 2011
Preceded byNew Creation
Succeeded byOliver McMullan
Personal details
Born(1942-06-02)2 June 1942
Died4 October 2022(2022-10-04) (aged 80)
Jordanstown, Northern Ireland
Political partyUlster Unionist Party
Alma materQueen's University, Belfast
WebsiteKen Robinson

Early life and education

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Robinson was born on 2 June 1942. He was educated at Ballyclare High School, Queen's University, Belfast and Stranmillis College. Before entering politics, he was Head of Cavehill Primary School.

Political career

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Robinson was a former Newtownabbey Borough Councillor (1985–1993 and 1995–1997). He has served as both Mayor (1991–1992) and Deputy-Mayor, and was Vice Chair of the Economic Development Committee (1995–1998).

He was first elected an MLA in 1998, and re-elected in 2003 and 2007.

He was a member of the Committee of the Centre and the Education Committee in the 1998–2003 Assembly. Robinson was a member of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure and the Committee on Procedures until his retirement from Stormont in March 2011. This followed on from his announcement in September 2010 that he was not seeking re-selection from the Ulster Unionist East Antrim Constituency Association.

On 20 September 2010, he announced his retirement from the Assembly, telling his constituency association in East Antrim that he would not be putting his name forward for next years assembly elections.[1]

Death

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Robinson died in Jordanstown on 4 October 2022, at the age of 80.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "BBC News – Ulster Unionist MLA Ken Robinson to retire". BBC News. BBC News. 3 October 2010. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  2. ^ O'Hara, Matthew (5 October 2022). "Ken Robinson: Tributes paid to former Ulster Unionist MLA after his death aged 80". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
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Civic offices
Preceded by Mayor of Newtownabbey
1991–1992
Succeeded by
Arthur Templeton
Northern Ireland Assembly
New assembly MLA for East Antrim
1998–2011
Succeeded by