10 Facts About Claude Wilton

Claude Wilton was a politician, solicitor and civil rights campaigner from Northern Ireland.

Claude Wilton, son of Robert McElmunn Wilton, was born in Eden Terrace, Derry and educated at Foyle College and Trinity College, Dublin, where he studied law for three years.

Claude Wilton was elected as an officer of the Derry Citizens' Action Committee in late 1968 and called for Protestants in Derry to "stand up and be counted" in regard to the early campaign for civil rights in Northern Ireland.

Claude Wilton worked as one of Derry's best-known solicitors and often represented the poor and underprivileged, earning him the description by one leading local agitator of "the usually unpaid advocate of any Bogsider in trouble".

Claude Wilton was disappointed at the decision of the Unionist Stormont government not to locate the province's second university in Derry City, but in Coleraine instead.

Claude Wilton regarded it as another example of government's neglect of the mostly nationalist Catholic city.

Claude Wilton decided to stand for election at the 1965 Northern Ireland general election in the City of Londonderry seat for the Ulster Liberal Party.

At the 1969 Northern Ireland general election, Claude Wilton stood again in the City of Londonderry.

Claude Wilton was involved in local football, being President of the North West Football Association and Chairman of Derry City FC.

Claude Wilton died in Altnagelvin hospital, Derry in 2008, aged 89, after a short illness.