Ian Adamson, OBE, is a retired community paediatrician and well known in Northern Ireland for his political, civic and cultural work. He is founder Chair of The Ulster-Scots Language Society, a leading figure in the modern revival of Ulster-Scots and has published widely on Ulster history, language and culture. A member of Belfast City Council from 1989 until 2011, he was Lord Mayor 1996/1997 and is presently High Sheriff of Belfast. He is active in a wide variety of community groups and associations, and was a founding figure of the Somme Association. He is presently the senior adviser on history and culture to Lord Bannside, the former First Minister of Northern Ireland, Dr Ian Paisley.