WHYTE'S THE ECLECTIC COLLECTOR SATURDAY & SUNDAY 25 & 26 July 2020

201 History THE ECLECTIC COLLECTOR · 25 & 26 JULY 2020 Command’s ceasefire. He was one of those central to bringing about that ceasefire. He was also a trade union activist in Harland &Wolff Shipyard; a former loyalist prisoner, who worked to find ways of reintegrating prisoners into society; chair of the Progressive Unionist Party and campaigner for social and economic justice. William Blair Smith was born in January 1954 in Belfast’s Shankill Road area. He was swept up in the developing Troubles after August 1969. Believing his community was under attack, he first joined the Shankill Defence Association, then helped found the Red Hand Commando. This later became part of the UVF. In the summer of 1971 he was convicted of rioting, and jailed for six months. In Crumlin Road prison he was an orderly to internees from Provisional and Official IRAs. He noted they never threatened or abused him. The following year he was jailed for attempted murder. Years later he felt humbled when the victim’s mother attended a talk he gave, and later said she was impressed by his work to end violence. He spent most of his five years’ imprisonment in the UVF compound in Long Kesh prison camp. There he was part of a “think tank”working on political issues. One of its conclusions was that the Catholic minority could not be shut out from power. Smith was a key delegate to the talks leading to the Good Friday Agreement, and, as evidenced by this archive, was highly thought of by Senator George Mitchell and President Bill Clinton. Estimate €5000-€7000 (approx £4,550-£6,360) Click here for more images and to bid on this lot 365