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| Former MP Cecil Walker dies at 81 | Former MP Cecil Walker dies at 81 |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The former Ulster Unionist MP Sir Cecil Walker has died of a suspected heart attack at the age of 81. | |
| Mr Walker was the MP for North Belfast for 18 years, from 1983 until 2001, when he lost his seat to the DUP's Nigel Dodds. | |
| He was awarded a knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honours in June 2002. | |
| Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey Mr Walker was "widely respected within the unionist family and will be sorely missed by all who knew him." | |
| "Sir Cecil was a dedicated public servant who represented the people of North Belfast both as a councillor at Belfast City Council and for 18 years as MP for the area. | |
| "His friendly and gentlemanly manner endeared him to both political friend and foe alike," Sir Reg said. | |
| North Belfast assembly member Fred Cobain said Mr Walker was a massive loss to the Ulster Unionist Party. | North Belfast assembly member Fred Cobain said Mr Walker was a massive loss to the Ulster Unionist Party. |
| "He was a tremendous individual and had a great rapport with ordinary working class people in the constituency," Mr Cobain said. | |
| "This really has taken the wind out of those who knew him." | "This really has taken the wind out of those who knew him." |
| SDLP North Belfast assembly member Alban Maginness expressed sympathy for Mr Walker's family. | |
| "Whilst we did not always agree politically I always found him gentlemanly and well intentioned. | |
| "He certainly had a very firm commitment to peace and harmony in our community," Mr Maginness said. |