Lord Laird of Artigarvin (23 April 1944 – 10 July 2018)

Lord Laird

John Dunn Laird grew up in a generation which witnessed much change within the second half of the twentieth century. Growing up in a staunch unionist family, when political unionism was in a much stronger position than it is today, events during his lifetime were to influence his political life.
John Laird was not just the life and soul of the party, he was the party, not afraid to speak his mind, while being warm, welcoming and good company. This is what you might expect from a ‘PR’ man, but he was unique, namely in that he overcame personal difficulties, being dyslexic during a period when such support we have today did simply not exist yet succeeded in life, in business, political and family life.
Two things John Laid will be remembered for include: his passion for Ulster-Scots and the Orange Institution. John was never a pessimist. This made him unique with regard to his political outlook in life.
He was also unique in that, given his public profile prior to becoming a Life Peer, he was open, outspoken and committed to the ideals of Unionism while being in private business during the dark days of ‘the Troubles’. Such a thing is unheard of these days, but Public Relations was what he thrived at, and his optimistic and jolly personality is something that many could learn from.
Lord Laird was never far from the media. He was always up for a challenge and an argument, in the belief that he was right. He took on the Irish Government over their policy on Gaeltacht areas (designated Irish Language communities), challenged them over their links with members of the Provisional IRA and named members of the IRA believed to be responsible for the murder of south Armagh man, Paul Quinn in Parliament.
John Dunn Laird was born on 23 April 1944 in Belfast to Norman and Margaret. He grew up on the Somerton Road and was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution. Norman, his father, was a local GP, and eventually fulfilled his ambition of becoming an MP at the infamous ‘Crossroads’ election of February 1969. His time as an MP was cut short, however, on his sudden death in April 1970.
John was to follow in his father’s political footsteps and successfully defended the seat of St Anne’s, held by his father, which included some of the most deprived parts of Belfast, in the subsequent by-election. He was the last MP to be elected to the old Stormont Parliament and also the youngest, aged just 26.
One of his acts during his short time in the Northern Ireland Parliament was to vote against his own Government, opposing a ban on certain Twelfth Demonstrations in 1972. As a loyal and staunch member of the Orange Order, a Member of Royal York LOL 145, he was true to his ideals and fought for what he believed was right and proper.
John went onto top the poll in the West Belfast seat to the newly established Sunningdale Assembly in 1973 and again in the 1975 Convention. He continued to be politically active; however, with little or no guarantee of an income he launched, the first modern-day PR firm – John Laird Public Relations.
Given his own personal abilities, the business proved successful while retaining an active role in Unionist politics.
As political arrangements re-emerged in the 1990s, he put his weight behind UUP Leader, David Trimble (now Lord Trimble of Lisnagarvey) and in 1999 was appointed a Life Peer alongside his friend and best man at his wedding, Dennis Rogan. John became the first head of the newly established Ulster-Scots Agency. He was also an early activist in the establishment of Belfast Orangefest.
John both lived and loved life and will be dearly missed by all those who knew him. He is a loss to Ulster, Orangeism and Unionism. John is survived by his brother James, wife Carol, son David and daughter Alison.


ADC