George Robinson
MBE
Robinson in 2021
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
for Londonderry, East
In office
26 November 2003 – 28 March 2022
Preceded byPauline Armitage
Succeeded byAlan Robinson
Personal details
Born (1941-05-30) 30 May 1941 (age 82)
Limavady, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland
NationalityBritish
Political partyDemocratic Unionist Party
Spouse
Ann Robinson
​
(m. 1967)​
[1]
WebsiteRobinson DUP

George Robinson MBE (born 30 May 1941) is a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician in Northern Ireland, who was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for East Londonderry from 2003 until 2022. He was previously a civil servant and was also elected to Limavady Borough Council in 1985, where he served for nearly 30 years before stepping down in 2013.

Life and career

Robinson was born in Limavady, County Londonderry to Joe, a soldier in both World War I and World War II, and Jane Robinson. George is the eldest of eight siblings; he has five brothers and two sisters. His father died of tuberculosis in 1964 and his mother at a "fairly young" age, leaving George to look after his siblings.[1]

He was educated at Limavady Technical College.[1] During the Troubles, he served in the army barracks.[1]

Robinson was elected Mayor of Limavady Borough Council in June 2002. Robinson welcomed a visit from the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, saying, "Last Tuesday and Wednesday were special days in Northern Ireland".[2]

In 2004, he suffered a serious heart attack and subsequently underwent a double heart bypass.[1]

On 17 March 2022, citing his age as a factor,[3] Robinson announced that he would be retiring as an MLA at the 2022 Assembly election[4] In a statement, he said: "At the last election I contested in 2017 and at the ripe old age of 75 it was said by a Nationalist opponent; 'when will we ever get rid of Robinson?' Well, the time has now arrived for this Robinson to move on, only by virtue of retirement, but like Unionism across the Province, I bow out unbroken and I bow out undefeated."[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Deeney, Donna (8 January 2018). "DUP MLA George Robinson: 'Working in an Army barracks during the Troubles - every morning you checked to see where the bomb was or who was shot'". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Coleraine times Robinson hails Queen's visit". Coleraine Times. 1 July 2012. Archived from the original on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  3. ^ "George Robinson: DUP MLA not standing in next election". 17 March 2022 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  4. ^ Leebody, Christopher (17 March 2022). "DUP MLA George Robinson announces retirement after 18 years in Stormont". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  5. ^ Tunney, Liam (17 March 2022). "Veteran County Derry politician announces retirement". Derry Now. Retrieved 17 March 2022.

External links

Political offices Preceded by??? Mayor of Limavady 2002–2003 Succeeded byAnne Brolly Northern Ireland Assembly Preceded byPauline Armitage MLA for East Londonderry 2003–2022 Succeeded byAlan Robinson


Democratic Unionist Party
Categories