Member's statement: Hilbert Willis
Member's statement by Mr Jonathan Buckley on .
- MLA
- Mr Jonathan Buckley
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 9 June 2025
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Hilbert Willis
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4997013
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Thank you, Mr Speaker. As a Member for Upper Bann, I mark the passing of an incredible and remarkable man: Hilbert Willis. Hilbert was 101 years old. A football fanatic and loyal-to-the-core supporter of Loughgall Football Club, his life was one that was well and truly lived. He described himself as an "all-round farmer". Hilbert was born on 11 February 1924, and his life spanned an extraordinary period. Such was his character that he engaged with his community, rolled up his sleeves and continued to work as a volunteer at Loughgall Football Club. Right up to his death, he was seen at the club supporting the team in all its endeavours. For 30 years, he served as groundsman and then as club chairman, among a host of other voluntary roles. In 2021, at the age of 97, inspired by the walk during COVID of Sir Tom Moore, Hilbert took to the pitch, doing 100 laps and raising £27,000 for Loughgall Football Club. It was remarkable for the man that he was. We have lost a legend. A family is in mourning. To the Willis family, I send our deepest sympathies. Hilbert's life was well and truly lived. It is true when they say, "There was only one Hilbert Willis". Such was his contribution to the local community that a stand was named in his honour at Loughgall Football Club. He was a much-loved servant of that team and, indeed, many other organisations in the Loughgall community.
246 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.02 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- Subject area: Sport (including the GAA), the arts and cultural bodies.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.02 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.01 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.02 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.01 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.02 | No |
| Overall judgement | 0.02 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Sport (including the GAA), the arts and cultural bodies | 0.85 |
| Sexism, misogyny, ageism and other equality groups | 0.08 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.06 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.01 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:42 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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