Northern Ireland's outgoing First Minister the Rev Ian Paisley's transformation from firebrand cleric to peacemaker has been recognised with an award today.
Dr Paisley (81) has been awarded the 2008 Oldie of the Year award for agreeing to enter into a power-sharing agreement with Sinn Féin last year.
Dr Paisley, who announced his intention to stand down as Democratic Unionist Party leader and First Minister in May last week, was presented with his award by broadcaster Terry Wogan at a ceremony in London this afternoon.
The Oldie of the Year Awards was founded in 1992 and annually celebrates the best efforts of Britain's 'oldies'
Former winners of the award include Sir David Attenborough, Ranulph Fiennes, Tony Blackburn, Sir John Mortimer, Dame Thora Hird, Richard Wilson and Spike Milligan.
Dr Paisley surprised many with his apparent transformation from probably the most fiery, uncompromising and bellicose of Northern Ireland's politicians to a "chuckle brother" to Deputy First Minister to Martin McGuinness.
Announcing his decision to stand down last Tuesday, Dr Paisley emphatically stood by his decision to share power with Sinn Féin. "It was the right thing to do," he said. It would save unionism from an "eventual united Ireland", he added.
In an interview on Sunday, Dr Paisley asserted that Sinn Féin were no longer "true republicans" because they had accepted Britain's right to govern in Northern Ireland.
The First Minister said he had achieved his aim and "smashed" Sinn Féin because they were now involved in the political process.
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