FORMER Ulster Unionist MLA Sam Gardiner has been described as a "man of dedicated service" following his death at the age of 82.
The Lurgan-born politician was an assembly member for the Upper Bann constituency from 2003 until he was succeeded following the Assembly election in 2016 by Doug Beattie.
Paying tribute to Mr Gardiner, Mr Beattie spoke of Mr Gardiner's long history in local politics, which saw him elected to the old Lurgan borough council in 1963 and two years later becoming the area's youngest mayor.
He served as mayor on three separate terms in Craigavon borough council and was also elected to the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996 before his career as a Stormont MLA began seven years later.
In 2011, following his re-election to Stormont, he became the Father of the House due to his age, which saw him preside over the election of then-Assembly speaker Robin Newton.
He was later de-selected by the UUP to stand in Upper Bann, a decision that led to him criticising then-party leader Mike Nesbitt, along with the decision for the UUP to enter opposition in Stormont in 2015.
Mr Beattie said Mr Gardiner was "a very friendly and personable man who was held in high esteem by council and Stormont colleagues across all parties and by the electorate".
"He was a man of conviction, a man of passion and a man of dedicated service," he said.
"The party will be the lesser for his passing."
A former chairman of Glenavon FC, the club held a minute's silence before its premiership game last night with Glentoran.
