William (Plum) Smith

Reference code

HOYFM.ACL2024.77

Level of description

Fonds

Title

William (Plum) Smith

Scope and content

William Blair Smith (Plum) was born in January 1954 in Belfast’s Shankill Road. With the onset of the Troubles, he joined the Shankill Defence Association, then helped found the Red Hand Commando, allied to the U.V.F.
As a prisoner in Long Kesh, he became involved in loyalist discussions on political solutions to the violence.
Upon his release, he chaired the Progressive Unionist Party and the press conference that announced the Combined Loyalist Military Command’s ceasefire, playing a key role in the talks leading to the Good Friday Agreement.
Some of the important items in this archive include:
Copies of letters from Gusty Spence on disturbances at Long Kesh camp, etc. in 1976; proposals outlining the formation of the Progressive Ulster Unionist Party, its constitution, and initiatives to achieve peace and democracy in Northern Ireland; 1993 messages passed between HMG and The Provisional Movement; House of Commons sheet signed by UUP MPs including Rev. Martin Smyth, David Trimble, etc.; handwritten minutes of meetings with the British government and PUP on issues including UVF prisoners; All-Party Negotiations background documents issued to party delegates, inscribed 'Plum' (Smith); sub-group meetings between Unionists and Sinn Féin; minutes of Strand One and Two meetings involving PUP, the Office of the Independent Chairman, and all parties, including Unionists, Sinn Féin, SDLP, etc.

Contents