This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-28852442
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Ex-environment minister Sam Foster, Ulster Unionist, dies aged 82 | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The former Northern Ireland environment minister, Sam Foster, has died. | The former Northern Ireland environment minister, Sam Foster, has died. |
| The Ulster Unionist, who was 82, represented Fermanagh in the assembly and served as a minister at Stormont between 1999 and 2002. | The Ulster Unionist, who was 82, represented Fermanagh in the assembly and served as a minister at Stormont between 1999 and 2002. |
| He was a former chairman of Fermanagh District Council and served as a major in the Ulster Defence Regiment. | He was a former chairman of Fermanagh District Council and served as a major in the Ulster Defence Regiment. |
| Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said he was proud to have known Mr Foster, whom he described as a "huge figure in Fermanagh unionism". | |
| "It is a mark of Sam that he was able to gain the respect of political friend and foe alike," he said. | |
| "He never held personal grudges and sought to find agreement rather than create strife. He rose to high office but never forgot his roots and always remained at heart a Fermanagh man. | |
| 'Great dignity' | |
| "Sam was the living embodiment of a loyal Ulster Unionist who served his country and his party faithfully for many decades and was held in the highest of esteem by all." | |
| Former Ulster Unionist leader Lord Empey said Mr Foster had confronted illness with "great dignity and fortitude". | |
| He added: "The one word that sums Sam up is loyalty. | |
| "Fermanagh has lost a great unionist today." | |
| Another former party leader, Tom Elliott, said Mr Foster had been a "long-standing, faithful and loyal member" of the party. | |
| In 2002, Mr Foster received a CBE for political and public service. He was related to the husband of Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster. | In 2002, Mr Foster received a CBE for political and public service. He was related to the husband of Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster. |
| A retired social worker, Mr Foster was a leading member of the Orange Order in Fermanagh. |