Clifford Forsythe, the MP for South Antrim, who died on April 27th aged 70, was one of the quintessential grey, backroom men of Ulster Unionism. Assiduously following the style of his great political mentor, Lord Molyneaux of Killead, he saw his role within the Ulster Unionist Party and the Orange Order in simple terms: keeping the union flag flying over Northern Ireland and protecting Northern Ireland's position within the United Kingdom. Change and progress were enemies to be countered at every turn.
It was not surprising therefore that he was opposed to the peace process in general and the Belfast Agreement in particular. He was closely aligned with his rebellious, fellow Westminster MPs on the issue; in recent turbulent months, to the point where they came out in open opposition to their party leader, David Trimble. Surprisingly, though, he remained on good personal terms with Trimble.
But, at a different level, he was a competent backbencher who made a noteworthy impact through the daily grind of bread and butter issues that more dominate the workload of MPs than the great questions of constitutional or international importance.
Indeed, the distractions of defending the union, in an assembly where Northern Ireland ennui is rampant, overshadowed his thoughtful contributions on a range of non-Northern Ireland issues during successive terms on the Social Security Select Committee and the Committee on Environment, Transport and the Regions and his membership of the all-party plumbing group.
If it were not for his Northern Ireland origins and unpopular unionism, he could well have been ranked among those backbenchers, mainly shrewd, old Labour men from the once great industrial conurbations like Merseyside or Tyneside, who were said to be "good House of Commons men" for their down-to-earth, practical view of the world and its problems.
His wide range of interests was evident. In what was to be his last parliamentary speech on March 23rd, he broadly welcomed the budget but went on to seek improvements involving pensioners, air travellers, fuel tax, vehicle excise duty and road building schemes.
Clifford Forsythe was a quiet, unassuming man who never sought the limelight and managed to do his job, as his nil return to the register of MPs' interests shows, without any of the overseas visits, gifts, benefits, hospitality or sponsorships that are now routinely accepted by so many parliamentarians. During his 17 years as an MP, he enjoyed one of the consistently biggest parliamentary majorities - 23,050 in 1992 although it slipped to 16,611 in 1997 - but he still paid strong attention to minority interests.
Clifford Forsythe was born in Belfast and educated at Glengormley Public Elementary School before serving his time as a plumber and heating engineer, skills he later applied in building up his own contracting business. He came to public attention as a professional footballer in the 1950s playing successively as a winger for Linfield and Derry City. He first became involved in politics through the Glengormley branch of the Ulster Unionist Party and was elected to Newtownabbey council, where he served from 1981-1985, including a term as mayor in 1983. He was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 1982 and remained a member until it was wound up four years later. However, thanks to a period as the full-time constituency organiser for James Molyneaux, then party leader, he passed a suitable apprenticeship and was lined up for a Westminster seat, being first elected as MP for South Antrim in 1983. Along with the other Unionists, he resigned at the end of 1985, and successfully defended the seat at the mini general election in January 1986, and at the subsequent British elections in 1987, 1992 and 1997. He set a punishing pace on the doorsteps as a canvasser and while his helpers tucked into steak and chips to regain their energy, in line with his careful attention to his health and fitness, he was happy with a cup of tea and a sandwich. He maintained an interest in football and running and was especially proud that his son Mark, a long jumper, was good enough to represent Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games. He regularly sang with the choir at the Church of Ireland's Templepatrick parish church near his home.
Clifford Forsythe is survived by his wife Lilian; two sons and three daughters.
Clifford Forsythe: born 1929; died April, 2000