Name Drew Nelson Role Politician | Party Ulster Unionist Party | |
 | ||
Drew Nelson (c. 1956 – 10 October 2016) was a Northern Irish solicitor and politician. He was the Grand Secretary of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland from 2005-16.
Contents
Biography
Nelson studied at Queen's University Belfast and attained his Bachelor of Laws in 1981. He set up his own law practice two years after graduation. He was District Master of Lower Iveagh District in County Down. A member of Listullycurran LOL 616. He was also a member of the Royal Black Institution.
In the 1992 general election, Nelson was selected by the South Down constituency of the Ulster Unionist Party to succeed Enoch Powell as parliamentary candidate. He lost to the incumbent, Social Democratic and Labour Party candidate Eddie McGrady by 6000 votes. In 1989, he topped the poll in Dromore DEA and was elected to Banbridge District Council. He retained his seat in 1993 and went on to become Chairman of the Council before standing down in 1997. In 1996, he was fourth on the UUP list for election to the Northern Ireland Forum in South Belfast In 2004, he left the UUP. The following year, he became Grand Secretary of the Orange Institution.
During his period of office, Nelson was part of Orange delegations which met with senior political and civic figures, including successive British First Ministers and Secretary of States, United States ambassadors, Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny, former Irish President Mary McAleese, Seán Cardinal Brady, SDLP members, and others.
Death
Nelson died on 10 October 2016, following a short illness, aged 60.
Political stances
In 1996, Nelson expressed support for the UUP ending or reforming its link with the Orange Order in an attempt to broaden its appeal, for which he was heckled.
He supported power sharing with the SDLP in a devolved unitary legislature, but opposed the 1998 Belfast Agreement.