Robert Overend
Encyclopedia
Robert Overend is a farmer and former Unionist politician
in Northern Ireland
.
Overend was a prominent member of the Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party and the Orange Order in the mid-1970s. In 1975, he proposed that the Order formed a new, united unionist party, but this was rejected. He was elected for Vanguard to the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention
from Mid Ulster
, In 1976, an unsuccessful attempt was made on his life by the Irish National Liberation Army
(INLA).
Overend joined the United Ulster Unionist Party
(UUUP) on its formation, and was elected to Magherafelt District Council
for the new party at the 1977 local elections
, holding his seat in 1981 local elections
[
Overend stood for the UUUP again at the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1982, but was not successful. In the run-up to the election, his son, also named Robert, was seriously injured by an INLA bomb. During the 1990s, he served as Deputy Grand Master of the Orange Order.
Outside politics, he works as a pig farmer and is chair of the Ulster Pork and Bacon Forum. His daughter-in-law, Sandra Overend
, is an Ulster Unionist
member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in 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...
.
Overend was a prominent member of the Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party and the Orange Order in the mid-1970s. In 1975, he proposed that the Order formed a new, united unionist party, but this was rejected. He was elected for Vanguard 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....
from Mid Ulster
Mid Ulster (Assembly constituency)
Mid Ulster is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973...
, In 1976, an unsuccessful attempt was made on his life by the Irish National Liberation Army
Irish National Liberation Army
The Irish National Liberation Army or INLA is an Irish republican socialist paramilitary group that was formed on 8 December 1974. Its goal is to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and create a socialist united Ireland....
(INLA).
Overend joined the United Ulster Unionist Party
United Ulster Unionist Party
The United Ulster Unionist Party was a unionist political party which existed in Northern Ireland between 1975 and 1984.It emerged from a division in the Vanguard Progressive Unionist Party in the late 1970s...
(UUUP) on its formation, and was elected to Magherafelt District Council
Magherafelt District Council
Magherafelt District Council is a district council in County Londonderry in Northern Ireland. Council headquarters are in Magherafelt. The Council area stretches from Lough Neagh and the River Bann in the east and into the Sperrin Mountains in the west and is divided by the Moyola River. It covers...
for the new party at the 1977 local elections
Northern Ireland local elections, 1977
Elections for local government were held in Northern Ireland in May 1977.The elections saw good performances by the four largest parties: the Ulster Unionist Party , Social Democratic and Labour Party , Alliance Party of Northern Ireland and Democratic Unionist Party , while smaller parties failed...
, holding his seat in 1981 local elections
Northern Ireland local elections, 1981
Elections for local government were held in Northern Ireland in 1981.-Overall:-Belfast:...
[
Overend stood for the UUUP again at the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1982, but was not successful. In the run-up to the election, his son, also named Robert, was seriously injured by an INLA bomb. During the 1990s, he served as Deputy Grand Master of the Orange Order.
Outside politics, he works as a pig farmer and is chair of the Ulster Pork and Bacon Forum. His daughter-in-law, Sandra Overend
Sandra Overend
Sandra Overend is an Ulster Unionist Party politician in Northern Ireland who was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2011.Overend was born near Stewartstown, County Tyrone and educated at Cookstown High School and the University of Ulster. She lives near Bellaghy, County Londonderry...
, is an Ulster Unionist
Ulster Unionist Party
The Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Northern Ireland Assembly
The Northern Ireland Assembly is the devolved legislature of Northern Ireland. It has power to legislate in a wide range of areas that are not explicitly reserved to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and to appoint the Northern Ireland Executive...
.