David Hollis, a former unionist politician from Newtownabbey, died on March 26 at age 79. A celebration of his life took place at Antrim and Newtownabbey Crematorium on April 2.

Hollis served as a DUP councillor for the Doagh Road ward on Newtownabbey Borough Council after election in May 1985. His running mate was Jim Allister, who was also elected. He resigned from the DUP in 1987 after Ian Paisley blocked Allister from contesting the East Antrim parliamentary seat. Hollis then joined the Independent DUP with other colleagues.

Later, Hollis served as an Ulster Unionist Party councillor. He reunited politically with Jim Allister in the Traditional Unionist Voice party. In 2014, Hollis won election to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council as a TUV representative for the Macedon DEA. He held the seat until 2019 and served on the Audit, Planning and Consultation, and Policy and Governance committees.

During his career, Hollis addressed local issues including housing, education, and health. He campaigned to maintain A&E services at Whiteabbey Hospital. He opposed Newtownabbey Borough Council's plan to develop Hazelbank parkland into a headquarters, civic centre, hotel complex, and marina.

Hollis held leadership roles in organisations such as Northern Ireland Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, North-Eastern Education and Library Board, Ulster University, Northern Regional College, and Northern Health and Social Services Council. He chaired Hill Croft School for 21 years and served on boards for Abbots Cross Primary and Newtownabbey Community High schools. He led the Rathcoole Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership.

In 1998, he joined the Rathcoole Leisure Plan Working Group, which oversaw a £1 million project for football pitches, a pavilion, amphitheatre, landscaping, and paths. He chaired the Shared History Group in White City, involving residents from Whitewell, Greencastle, Bawnmore, Longlands, Merville Garden Village, Rathcoole, and Glengormley.

Hollis established the Newtownabbey branch of the RNLI and served as its first chairperson. In June 2000, he received a Certificate of Thanks from Alison Saunders, chair of the UK-wide RNLI Fundraising Committee.

He is survived by wife Sarah, children Mark, Jill, Lisa, and Debbie, grandchildren Taylor, Josh, Abbie, and Eva, great-grandchildren Archie and Lylah, and sister June. His daughter Kelly died in November 2019.