By Staff Reporter
TRIBUTES have been paid to the former Mayor of Ards, alderman Margaret Craig, who passed earlier this month. Mrs Craig was a councillor for Ards West – Comber, Ballygowan, Killinchy and Lisbane.
She was returned for the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) in the 1993 and1997 elections, and for the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in 2001 and 2005. Mrs Craig served as Mayor of Ards in 2001 to 2002.
Strangford MP Jim Shannon described her as a ‘traditional, assiduous and strong voice for her constituents’.
“Margaret had a reputation for delivery and for not taking no for an answer, and because of this she delivered for her constituents,” he said. “She had become disillusioned with the UUP over the years.”
Mr Shannon said the natural transition to the DUP was the ‘obvious direction of travel’ for her. “We were so pleased to have her join with us and she supported our DUP team in the council so well as an astute and dedicated member”, he said.
Mrs Craig ‘threw herself into fund raising for the DUP’, Mr Shannon explained. “Margaret was an absolutely wonderful baker – her cakes were mouth watering and we looked forward to the cake bakes in those days.”
Over the years Mrs Craig had decided that she wanted to sit as an independent and left the DUP, he explained.
“But her commitment to her constituents continued unmatched and unwavering and her voice in the Ards chamber never faltered”, Mr Shannon added. “For all of those who served alongside Margaret we have very fond memories of a formidable lady, a strong voice, one who would battle for her constituents and who, all her days, was an unfailingly staunch ally”.
Mrs Craig stood fast to her unionist and traditional views, he said, which resonated well with her constituents and which ‘served everyone so well’ on the Ards council.
Mrs Craig passed away on March 4 and her funeral service was held in Second Presbyterian Church, Comber on Monday, March 9, followed by burial in Loughview Cemetery, Comber.
