*🎬 Tommy Patton OBE – The Voice of Belfast’s Working Class | Full Story of a Civic Legend 🇬🇧
Thomas William Saunderson Patton, better known as Tommy Patton OBE, was a true fixture in Belfast’s civic and political life. Born in 1914, Patton started his working life at Harland & Wolff, the iconic Belfast shipyard, before taking up a role at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum—but it was his deep connection to the local community that eventually led him into politics.
Representing the Ulster Unionist Party, Patton was elected to Belfast City Council in 1973 and quickly became known as a champion of the working class. With his blunt honesty, down-to-earth humour, and unshakable dedication to public service, he became a familiar and respected figure across the city. His unique style, often peppered with accidental malapropisms (like calling the police “no detergent against the IRA” or requesting “Durex” paint instead of Dulux), only endeared him further to the people.
He served as Lord Mayor of Belfast from 1982 to 1983, during a difficult and often turbulent time in Northern Ireland’s history. Later, he was appointed High Sheriff of Belfast (1992–1993) and was honoured with an OBE (Order of the British Empire) for his service and contributions to the city.
A man of strong Unionist convictions but also deep compassion, Patton never lost touch with the everyday people he represented. As journalist Jim McDowell once wrote, he was a “cornerstone of what the unionist working-class vote was.”
Today, his legacy lives on in East Belfast, where the Alderman Tommy Patton Memorial Park* (Inverary Playing Fields) bears his name—a tribute to his lifelong commitment to his city. The park features sports facilities, playgrounds, woodlands, and walking trails, serving as a green space for future generations in the community he loved.
📽️ In this video, we look back at the life, legacy, and lasting impact of a man who defined what it meant to serve the people of Belfast—through humour, heart, and hard work.
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