Bill Clinton: John Hume’s legacy will be shaped by his example to the end of our days.

FORMER US President Bill Clinton has paid his own personal and heartfelt tribute at the sad passing today of former SDLP leader John Hume.

The 83-year-old died in the early hours of this morning at Owen Mor nursing home after a short illness surrounded by his loving wife Pat and family.

Bill Clinton forged a close personal friendship with John Hume as he helped to bring about the peace process and the 1998 Belfast Agreement.

In a statement this evening, Mr Clinton said: “Hillary and I are deeply saddened by the passing of our friend John Hume, who fought his long war for peace in Northern Ireland.

“His chosen weapons: an unshakeable commitment to nonviolence, persistence, kindness and love.

“With his enduring sense of honour, he kept marching on against all odds towards a brighter future for all the children of Northern Ireland.

“Through his faith in principled compromise, and his ability to see his adversaries as human beings, John helped forge the peace that has held to this day.

“I’ll never forget our night in Derry in 1995, with the town square and blocks around full of hopeful faces, walking with him across the Peace Bridge nearly 20 years later, and all of the moments we shared in between.

“His legacy will live on in every generation of Northern Ireland’s young people who make John’s choice, to live free of the hatred and horror of sectarian violence.

“And it will endure in the hearts of those of us who loved him and will be shaped by his example to the end of our days.

“Our love and prayers are with Pat, their children and grandchildren.

“May he rest in peace, never losing the twinkle in his eye or the sly smile that lighted our lives,” added the Clinton statement.

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