CONFERMENT OF THE FREEDOM OF THE BOROUGH OF MID AND EAST ANTRIM

SIR WILLIAM WRIGHT CBE

18 January 2019

SIMUL • ET • DEINCEPS Mayor’s Foreword

As Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, I’m delighted to welcome you all to the conferment of the Freedom of the Borough of Sir William Wright CBE.

As the member of a family has been at the shaped by engineering, heart of our community for I’m so privileged to celebrate generations and is renowned for this special event in honour the outstanding quality of its work of a man who has given so around the world. The company, much to this Borough. despite challenges, has provided employment to tens of thousands Sir William’s contribution of our citizens over the years. It to global business and the has promoted and supported the local economy is unmistakable. education of our young people An entrepreneur and pioneer and provided a lifeline for many in his field Sir William, despite organisations and groups within his worldwide success, has Mid and East Antrim. never forgotten his strong ties to Ballymena. His vision This honour is our opportunity and dedication has put our to recognise all of that fantastic Borough firmly on the map work and, more importantly, to as an area of manufacturing give thanks to Sir William, from excellence and innovation. the people of Mid and East Antrim.

Councillor Lindsay Millar Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

02 Conferment of the Freedom of the Borough of Mid and East Antrim Acknowledgement

Tribute from The Rt Hon MP

Sir William Wright CBE is one of ’s most well-known and respected businessmen. His achievements in the manufacturing industry have brought him recognition throughout the and indeed globally, yet he remains incredibly proud of his Ballymena roots.

As part of my 2008 campaign to become Mayor of , I pledged to introduce a new version of the Routemaster double-decker bus to the capital, to give London public transport an icon for the 21st Century. Following my successful election, the wheels were set in motion to turn this vision into a reality and that is how I first became acquainted with Sir William.

Wrightbus was the manufacturer As a result of Sir William’s I am delighted to have the selected to deliver the project, remarkable insight into the opportunity to pay tribute a hybrid diesel-electric double- needs for modern mass transit to Sir William Wright CBE decker bus offering a hop-on, solutions and through the on this special occasion. hop-off service. Under Sir innovative use of cutting edge For Mid and East Antrim William’s leadership they took technology, he has ensured Borough Council to bestow its it from drawing board to the that Wrightbus has grown highest honour, conferment of streets of London in less than 3 from its humble beginnings Freedom of the Borough on Sir years. Today there are hundreds to become a world leader in of internationally recognisable William is a fitting honour to . It truly is New Routemasters in operation someone who has contributed a shining example of great throughout the capital, all of so much to the economic and British manufacturing. which started life in Ballymena. social fabric of the area.

The Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP

18 January 2019 03 Resolution of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

On 5 February 2018 it was proposed by the then Mayor, Councillor Paul Reid, seconded by Councillor Mrs Audrey Wales MBE and resolved:

“That the Honorary Freedom of the Borough of Mid and East Antrim be conferred on Sir William Wright CBE in recognition of his service to the economy and support for the community of Mid and East Antrim and also for his contribution to bus manufacturing internationally.”

Conferment of the Freedom of the Borough

The tradition of Boroughs Originally such conferment the tradition is maintained conferring the Freedom of the conveyed special privileges as a means whereby public Borough goes back to ancient of various kinds upon recognition may be given to times when the Royal Charter recipients but, over the years, the recipients as an expression Boroughs were almost, if not the conferment has become of the highest esteem in which entirely, self-governing with purely honorary. they are held by the Council little or no control over the and the people of the Borough. authority and powers of the The Freedom of the Borough Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses is the highest honour that a by Parliament or Statute. Council can bestow. Today

04 Conferment of the Freedom of the Borough of Mid and East Antrim Ceremonial Mace

The mace is a highly ornamented Traditionally a mace is carried by is engraved in Latin, translated staff which serves as a symbol of the Sergeant at Arms before the as: ‘A gift from Robert Gardner the Mayor’s authority. Council sovereign or other high ranking Esquire, in the Year of Our Lord meetings ordinarily begin with officials during civic ceremonies, 1712, in Honour of His City’. the mace-bearer carrying the representing power and authority. mace into the Chamber and the Such is its historic significance, ceremonial tradition of ‘laying The mace in use at today’s that it has been chosen as the down the mace’, as the Mayor ceremony is the ceremonial official ceremonial mace for takes their place. The mace is mace which was presented to Mid and East Antrim Borough also carried on civic occasions the town of Carrickfergus by Council and was used in the such as the conferring of the Colonel Robert Gardner in 1712. new Council’s first meeting Freedom of the Borough. Made from silver-gilt, the mace on 1 April 2015.

Ceremonial Sword

Made out of Britannia silver the Mid and East Antrim Borough ceremonial sword was created by Council only uses the ceremonial Thomas Vicaridge in London and sword on very significant civic like the mace was presented to occasions such as today’s the Corporation of Carrickfergus ceremony for the Conferment in 1712. The Corporation of the Freedom of the Borough. employed a sword-bearer, who carried the sword before the Mayor on formal occasions.

18 January 2019 05 Sir William Wright CBE

William Wright was born in 1925 the elder of two children and grew up in Ballymena. On leaving school he attended the technical college, going on to found Robert Wright and Sons Limited in 1946, along with his father Robert Wright, later becoming Wrights Group Ltd.

The company thrived under The company launched the the leadership of the father/ UK’s first pure electric bus in son team, becoming the leading 1998 and Sir William went on commercial body builder to lead the way in developing in Northern Ireland by the hybrid and hydrogen bus 1970s. Sir William Wright then technology, including the masterminded the company’s New Routemaster for London. entry into the wider UK market, where it has become one of the For many years Sir William UK’s leading bus manufacturers. has been a leading proponent of the development of Today, Wrightbus is one environmentally friendly of Northern Ireland’s largest technologies; his vision is employers, manufacturing to improve air quality in technologically innovative towns and cities globally. vehicles for service across Even today, he continues the globe, from the UK to the to take a close interest in USA to Hong Kong and beyond. product development. The company’s success is which was opened in 2016. primarily due to Sir William’s A legacy of his commitment The centre promotes research foresight and persistence in to the development of new and advanced engineering introducing new technologies technologies is the William to facilitate the creation and and developing new Wright Technology Centre, a incubation of technologies relationships with key joint venture between Wrights for the future development partners within the industry. Group and Queens University, of the bus industry.

06 Conferment of the Freedom of the Borough of Mid and East Antrim William Wright was awarded Alongside his ever-growing an OBE for services to the bus bus business, Sir William industry and the community Wright took an active interest in 2001. In 2011 he was awarded in politics, and he served on a CBE for his services to the Ballymena Borough Council bus industry. He was further from 1981 to 1985 and again honoured in May 2018 when he from 1993 to 2005. was made a Knight Bachelor of the British Empire for services Throughout his career in to both the bus industry and industry and in politics Sir the UK economy. William’s wife, Lady Ruby, whom he married in 1954 has been his constant companion and support. They have three children, ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Family and faith continue to be at the centre of this remarkable man’s life.

18 January 2019 07 Order of Proceedings

10:30am Welcome Reception.

11:00am Sir William Wright CBE received by the Mayor and Chief Executive. Welcome in the Atrium and then proceed to the Mayor’s Parlour.

11.55am The Aldermen and Councillors take their places in the Council Chamber.

12.00pm Special Council Meeting for Conferment of Freedom of the Borough.

Arrival of the Freedom Party in the Theatre and piped to the stage. 12.30pm The Mayor will address the Assembly. Mr PJ McAvoy will address the Assembly. Mr MP will address the Assembly. Mrs Lauren Christie, granddaughter of Sir William Wright CBE, new Freeman of Mid & East Antrim, will address the Assembly.

Civic Dinner. 1.15pm Performance by Ulster Youth Orchestra. Toasts.

2.45pm Seven Towers Male Voice Choir will perform 3 pieces: Congratulations In Christ Alone When I Survey

08 Conferment of the Freedom of the Borough of Mid and East Antrim Order of Ceremony

12.00pm All present will stand and the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Chief Executive and Sir William Wright CBE, led by the sword and mace-bearers, will process into the Council Chamber and take their seats.

Her Worship the Mayor, Councillor Miss Lindsay Millar, will call upon her Chaplain Rev Dr Sam Grant to offer prayer.

Her Worship the Mayor will preside and request the Clerk and Chief Executive, Ms Anne Donaghy, to read the summons convening the Special Meeting.

Her Worship the Mayor will call upon the Clerk and Chief Executive to read the Resolution of Council conferring the Freedom of the Borough on Sir William Wright CBE.

Her Worship the Mayor will call upon the Proposer of the Resolution, Alderman Gregg McKeen to speak.

Her Worship the Mayor will call upon the Seconder of the Resolution, Cllr Audrey Wales MBE to speak.

Her Worship the Mayor will address the Assembly and present the Certificate of Conferment of Freedom of the Borough.

Her Worship the Mayor will invite Sir William Wright CBE to sign the Register of Burgesses.

Her Worship the Mayor will declare the meeting closed.

The Freedom Party, Aldermen and Councillors will leave the Council Chamber, led by the sword and mace-bearers, and proceed to the Theatre to join with guests.

18 January 2019 09 The story of Wrightbus

Wrights Group is the UK’s leading independent supplier of accessible public transport vehicles, based in , Northern Ireland. It is a privately owned family managed business, with over 70 years experience in passenger transit. Travel anywhere in the United Kingdom by public transport today and the chances are high that at some stage you will encounter a “Wrightbus”.

The early years

1970s 1988 The first , Wrights established 1999 small ones, were its presence in the The first UK company 1946 produced in the Public Service Vehicles to engineer and build When it all began. early 1970s. (PSV) industry. an articulated city bus.

1960s 1976 1993 2006 Developed into a Adopting an easily Hailed as the first British Launched the world’s substantial commercial repairable, all bolted manufacturer to design, first hybrid-electric body-building business Alusuisse framing develop and market a double deck at with over 50 staff. system led to developing fully accessible low floor London’s City Hall. AluminiqueTM, with public bus in the UK. Wrights Group designed and patented features.

10 Conferment of the Freedom of the Borough of Mid and East Antrim Up to the present day 2009 2010 The launch of Streetcar, StreetLite launched an important development a new approach to New London bus Continued support showcased Wrightbus the single deck bus, Routemaster, introduced of customer care design, innovation featuring a lightweight, after Wrightbus won and maintaining key and ambition. fuel saving concept the contract, going from relationships with other with over 1,700 vehicles drawing board to the road partners including Volvo, now in operation. in less than three years. Scania, MAN and VDL.

Developing the hybrid Expanded into Today the company electric/electric vehicle 2012/13 key international continues to play an Made the move to has led to 1,000 vehicles markets, partnering integral role in the local complete vehicle in service today. with others including community, as well as manufacturer and Daimler in India. playing a significant part the opening of in the wider Northern Wright EN-Drive. Ireland economy.

18 January 2019 11 Freemen of the Borough of Ballymena

Mr William Shaw 24 February 1947 Mr Robert Young Eaton 3 August 1954 Lt Col Arthur O’Neill Chichester 31 October 1966 Mr Thomas McKay Wilson 31 October 1966 Mr William Millar Cameron 31 October 1966 The Royal Irish Rangers 24 May 1969 The Royal Ulster Constabulary and Reserve 17 December 1982 Mr Sandy Spence MBE 6 May 1994 The Royal Irish Regiment 1 October 1994 Dr Sydney Millar MBE 13 May 2004 Rev Dr Ian R K Paisley, Lord Bannside 10 December 2004 The Royal British Legion 12 May 2007 Mr Liam Neeson OBE 28 January 2013

Freemen of the Borough of Carrickfergus

Alderman William McCullough JP 6 October 1952 Alderman Walter McKeown 15 October 1956 Alderman Thomas John Patterson OBE, JP 7 March 1960 Councillor Hugh McLean OBE 16 January 1978 Mr Samuel Murphy MBE, JP 4 November 1986 Mr Samuel Simms 4 November 1986 Mrs Joan Catherine Tomlin 4 November 1986 Ulster Defence Regiment 1 October 1988 The Royal Irish Regiment 17 April 1993 Mr Raymond Boyd ACIS 12 April 2001

12 Conferment of the Freedom of the Borough of Mid and East Antrim Mr William Hume 12 April 2001 Councillor Charles Johnston 12 April 2001 Mr Terence Murtagh JP 12 April 2001 Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service 4 August 2006

Freemen of the Borough of

Rt Hon Sir Thomas Dixon Bart 2 June 1947 Squadron Leader Ferris 2 June 1947 Dr John Girvan 2 June 1947 General Sir James S Steele KCB, KBE, DSO, QC, LLD 5 September 1949 The Most Noble William Spencer Leveson-Gower, Vice Admiral 9 October 1951 The Earl Granville KCVO, CB, DSO, LLD Her Excellency The Countess Granville DCVO 9 October 1951 Lady Edith Dixon DBE, JP 28 March 1952 Alderman Clements Edward Fitzgerald Robinson 21 April 1955 Lt Col Frank Bustard OBE, M Inst T 22 June 1969 Alderman Nathaniel Magee 21 November 1972 Royal Ulster Constabulary 23 September 1982 Mr Hugh Wilson FRCS 9 October 1985 Ulster Defence Regiment 14 March 1992 Northern Ireland Fire Brigade 30 August 1996 Royal National Lifeboat Institution 11 April 2000 The Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling), 1 November 2008 83rd, 87th and the Ulster Defence Regiment) Alderman John Robert (Roy) Beggs MBE 13 March 2015 Alderman John (Jack) McKee 13 March 2015 Dr Benedict Daniel Glover 13 March 2015 Mr Noel Charles Rogan QPM 13 March 2015

18 January 2019 13 Freemen of the Borough of Mid and East Antrim

B (North Irish Horse) Squadron, The Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry 30 January 2016 Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant, Mrs Joan Christie CVO OBE 21 April 2018

Mayor Deputy Mayor Councillor Lindsay Millar Councillor Cheryl Johnston

Aldermen Councillors

May Beattie Beth Adger MBE Peter Johnston Paul Reid John Carson Donna Anderson Noel Jordan Paul Sinclair Robin Cherry MBE Billy Ashe MBE Robert Logan Robin Stewart Sam Hanna Beth Clyde Paul Maguire Angela Smyth Stewart McDonald Brian Collins William McCaughey Audrey Wales MBE Gregg McKeen Timothy Gaston Lynn McClurg Andy P Wilson William McNeilly Reuben Glover James McKeown Andrew Wilson Maureen Morrow Patrice Hardy Mark McKinty Ruth Wilson Gerardine Mulvenna Billy Henry Stephen Nicholl Tommy Nicholl MBE James Henry Declan O’Loan

Thanks

Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for the County of Antrim, Mrs Joan Christie CVO, OBE The Wright family The Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP Ian Paisley MP Rev Dr Sam Grant Piper, Andrew McGregor Ulster Youth Orchestra Seven Towers Male Voice Choir

14 Conferment of the Freedom of the Borough of Mid and East Antrim