Tributes have been paid to founder of the company Wrightbus Sir William Wright who has died aged 94. The Ballymena man has been remembered as a 'giant character' and someone who had 'that X Factor'.
DUP MP Ian Paisley led tributes to Mr Wright and extended his condolences to his wife Lady Wright and the entire family circle.
In a statement he said: "Today, with the passing of Sir William Wright, Ballymena has lost a giant. A Godly man of faith. A loyal Ulsterman. An entrepreneur without match. We will not see his like again.
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"I wish to extend to Lady Wright and to all the family my and my family's and our party’s sincerest condolences for their loss.
"Sir William was a giant character. He was one of the last true captains of industry and commerce and a man who has left his mark, not just locally but globally. Everywhere there is engineering or manufacturing or sales of buses his genius will be remembered.
"I have had the honour of knowing him and his family for decades. He was both a political and business leader. He cared passionately about the employment and skills training of local people. He loved Northern Ireland and he was dedicated in everything that he did. When in his presence you knew you were with someone remarkable. He had that X factor that, so few possess. But those who have it make a difference to all around. Northern Ireland was so fortunate to have him as a son."
"To his immediate and extended family. They can take courage in his faith, which was strong. His witness purposeful. At their time of great loss, they know many people across the entire country will be praying for them."
The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Noel Williams, expressed his condolences following the death of Mr Wright.
He said: “I was extremely saddened to hear of the death of Sir William and my thoughts are with his family and friends.
“Sir William was an inspirational engineering pioneer. Since its foundation by William and his father, Robert, in a tin shed in 1946, his business grew to be a global leader in its sector and has provided employment for thousands of people, particularly in the local and surrounding area.
“Sir William’s vision, innovation and entrepreneurship was exceptional and he placed Ballymena, indeed Northern Ireland, on the map for manufacturing excellence. He was a trailblazing leader of industry and commerce.”
Council bestowed the Freedom of the Borough on Sir William in 2019 in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to global business and the local economy.
Sir William Wright was awarded an OBE for services to the bus industry and the community in 2001. In 2011 he was awarded a CBE for his services to the bus industry.
He was further honoured in May 2018 when he was made a Knight Bachelor of the British Empire for services to both the bus industry and the UK economy.
Alongside his ever-growing bus business, Sir William served on Ballymena Borough Council from 1981 to 1985 and again from 1993 to 2005.
DUP MLA for North Antrim Paul Frew also paid tribute to the well-known businessman and former politican.
He posted on Twitter: "Sorry to hear news that Sir William Wright has passed away, my thoughts & prayers are with his family at this sad time. I value the times I worked with William, he was a respected member of the Economic Development Committee that I chaired and he gave so much to Northern Ireland."
Mr Wright co-founded the company with his father and Wrightbus was the first company in the UK to produce an electric bus, the first to produce a hybrid-electric double decker, and now the first in the world with a hydrogen-powered double decker bus.
Following financial troubles the company was bought over by Jo Bamford in 2019.
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