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Billy Bell (politician)
Encyclopedia
William Bradshaw "Billy" Bell, OBE
, JP
(born 9 October 1935) is an Unionist politician from Northern Ireland
and former Lord Mayor of Belfast
.
He served as a Councillor on Belfast City Council
from 1976 to 1985 and was Lord Mayor of Belfast
from 1979 to 1980. He also served on Lisburn Council
(1989–2007) and was Mayor
of the City of Lisburn
in 2003, the only person to be mayor of two different Cities in the United Kingdom
.
He was Personal Assistant to MP Rt Hon Sir James Molyneaux
from 1976 to 1997. He was elected to the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention
(1975–1976) for North Belfast, and to the Northern Ireland Assembly for the Lagan Valley
constituency in 1998 and again in 2003. Bell stood in the 2007 election
after re-selection by his party, however he lost his seat to fellow UUP candidate, Basil McCrea
.
He was appointed a Justice of the Peace
in 1985, and is a former member of the Northern Ireland Housing Council.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(born 9 October 1935) is an Unionist politician from Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and former Lord Mayor of Belfast
Lord Mayor of Belfast
The Lord Mayor of Belfast is the leader and chairman of Belfast City Council, elected annually from and by the City's 51 councillors.The Lord Mayor is Niall Ó Donnghaile of Sinn Féin, while the Deputy Lord Mayor is Ruth Patterson of the Democratic Unionist Party, who were elected in May 2011.The...
.
He served as a Councillor on Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council is the local authority with responsibility for the city of Belfast, the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. The Council serves an estimated population of , the largest of any district council in Northern Ireland, while also being the fourth smallest by area...
from 1976 to 1985 and was Lord Mayor of Belfast
Lord Mayor of Belfast
The Lord Mayor of Belfast is the leader and chairman of Belfast City Council, elected annually from and by the City's 51 councillors.The Lord Mayor is Niall Ó Donnghaile of Sinn Féin, while the Deputy Lord Mayor is Ruth Patterson of the Democratic Unionist Party, who were elected in May 2011.The...
from 1979 to 1980. He also served on Lisburn Council
Lisburn City Council
Lisburn City Council is a district council covering an area partly in County Antrim and partly in County Down in Northern Ireland. The council is the second largest in the Belfast Metropolitan Area. Council headquarters are in the city of Lisburn, upon which was conferred city status in May 2002 as...
(1989–2007) and was Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the City of Lisburn
Lisburn
DemographicsLisburn Urban Area is within Belfast Metropolitan Urban Area and is classified as a Large Town by the . On census day there were 71,465 people living in Lisburn...
in 2003, the only person to be mayor of two different Cities in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
He was Personal Assistant to MP Rt Hon Sir James Molyneaux
James Molyneaux
James Henry Molyneaux, Baron Molyneaux of Killead, KBE, PC is a Northern Irish Unionist politician and was leader of the Ulster Unionist Party from 1979 to 1995. He was a leading member and sometime Vice-President of the Conservative Monday Club...
from 1976 to 1997. He was elected to the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention
Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention
The Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention was an elected body set up in 1975 by the UK Labour government of Harold Wilson as an attempt to deal with constitutional issues surrounding the status of Northern Ireland....
(1975–1976) for North Belfast, and to the Northern Ireland Assembly for the Lagan Valley
Lagan Valley
Lagan Valley is an area of Northern Ireland between Belfast and Lisburn. The Lagan is a famous river that flows into Belfast Lough. For a section, the river forms part of the border between the counties of Antrim and Down....
constituency in 1998 and again in 2003. Bell stood in the 2007 election
Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2007
The third elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly were held on 7 March 2007 when 108 new members were elected. The election saw endorsement of the St Andrews Agreement and the two largest parties, the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin, along with the Alliance Party, increase their...
after re-selection by his party, however he lost his seat to fellow UUP candidate, Basil McCrea
Basil McCrea
Basil McCrea MLA is a unionist politician in Northern Ireland. He was elected in 2007 to the Northern Ireland Assembly as a Ulster Unionist Party member for Lagan Valley. He unsuccessfully contested the 2005 UK General Election in Lagan Valley for the UUP...
.
He was appointed a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in 1985, and is a former member of the Northern Ireland Housing Council.