Funeral of war hero and former MP

One of the many tributes paid by colleagues this week following the death of former Carrick MP and war hero Captain Austin Ardill MC at the age of 93.

A long standing member of the party, Mr Ardill, who represented the area at both parliamentary and assembly level, passed away on Tuesday of last week.

Extending condolences to the Ardill family, East Antrim UUP MLA Roy Beggs said: “Austin was a good friend and colleague and I was grateful to have known him. He was our Carrickfergus MP for the NI Parliament and was an Assembly member for South Antrim during his long political career, and he also ran for the leadership of our party in 1979, something that a lot of people forget.”

Fellow Assembly member Ken Robinson revealed that it was Mr Ardill who inspired him on the route into politics.

He said: “All who met with Austin were immediately struck by his sense of dignity, friendship and acute political awareness. He was part of the generation who had survived the Second World War with fortitude and were fired with a determination to make things better in its aftermath. He had suffered as a POW on the Greek island of Leros during part of that global conflict and was awarded the Military Cross.

“On a personal note, it was Austin who first encouraged me to join the Ulster Unionist Party and I followed his advice by joining the local branch in Greenisland in the 1960s. His late wife, Molly, was also involved in political life as an active member of Carrickfergus Council as well as serving alongside me on the North Eastern Education and Library Board for many years.

“While Austin's passing has brought a great sorrow to his family and friends, his legacy of political involvement on behalf of this community over the years will be recalled with gratitude by the many people who met him and came away the better for that meeting.”

East Antrim treasurer and UUP stalwart May Steele MBE JP added: “I had the pleasure of knowing Austin for 45 years and recalled his days as MP for Carrickfergus when my husband Sam Steele was his local Chairman. Austin was always a doughty, articulate exponent of the Ulster Unionist cause and was an affable friend who will be sadly missed.”

A Thanksgiving Service for Mr Ardill’s life was held at Holy Trinity Church, Carrick, on Friday. Interment took place afterwards at Victoria Cemetery.

Pre-deceased by his wife Molly, Mr Ardill is survived by his daughter Betty and son Robin.