Sam Gardiner

For other people named Sam Gardiner, see Sam Gardiner (disambiguation).

Alderman Samuel Gardiner MBE JP (24 March 1940 – 8 November 2022) was a Northern Irish Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) politician who was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Upper Bann from 2003 to 2016.

Sam Gardiner MBE, JP
Father of the Northern Ireland Assembly
In office 5 May 2011 – 5 May 2016
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Upper Bann
In office 26 November 2003 – 30 March 2016
Preceded by	George Savage
Succeeded by	Doug Beattie
Mayor of Craigavon
In office 2001–2002
Preceded by	Fred Crowe
Succeeded by	Jonathan Bell
In office 1988–1989
Preceded by	Sydney Cairns
Succeeded by	James McCammick
In office 1982–1983
Preceded by	Mary Simpson
Succeeded by	James Gillespie
Member of Craigavon Borough Council
In office 21 May 1997 – 5 May 2011
Preceded by	Audrey Savage
Succeeded by	Jo-Anne Dobson
Constituency	Lurgan
In office 15 May 1985 – 17 May 1989
Preceded by	District created
Succeeded by	Audrey Savage
Constituency	Lurgan
In office 20 May 1981 – 15 May 1985
Preceded by	James Baird
Succeeded by	District abolished
Constituency	Craigavon Area D
Ulster Unionist Whip in the Northern Ireland Forum
In office 1996–1998
Leader	David Trimble
Preceded by	Office created
Succeeded by	Office abolished
Northern Ireland Forum Member for Upper Bann
In office 30 May 1996 – 25 April 1998
Preceded by	New forum
Succeeded by	Forum dissolved
Mayor of Lurgan
In office 1968–1969
Member of Lurgan Borough Council
In office 1963–1973
Succeeded by	Council abolished
Personal details
Born	(1940-03-24)24 March 1940 Lurgan, County Armagh, Northern Ireland
Died	8 November 2022(2022-11-08) (aged 82)
Nationality	British
Political party	Ulster Unionist Party
Spouse	Elizabeth Gardiner
Children	Clive Keith
Residence(s)	Lurgan, County Armagh
Website	Gardiner UUP

Background

Gardiner was elected to Lurgan Borough Council (now Craigavon Borough Council) in 1963 and held office of mayor in that borough in 1968.^[1] He was mayor of Craigavon 1982/3, 1988/9 and 2000/1.

Gardiner was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum and was party whip in the same in 1996–1998.^[2]

Gardiner was elected to the Assembly in 2003. He served on the Environmental, Leisure Services and Public Services Liaison Committees and was the UUP spokesperson on environment. As the oldest Northern Ireland Assembly member, Gardiner also served as Father of the House, a role which includes presiding over the election of a new Speaker of the Assembly.^[3]

Gardiner was a High Sheriff for County Armagh and was appointed a justice of the peace. He was also a member of the Orange Order, Deputy Sovereign Grand Master of the Royal Black Institution and former chairman of Glenavon F.C.

Gardiner died on 8 November 2022, at the age of 82.^[4]