That year, he led a group of four party members who joined the New Ulster Movement, accepting the post of joint chairman of its political committee.

The following year he was knighted and in 1989 he stood down from Belfast City Council, seemingly to retire.

However, in 1995 he returned to the political fray when he contested the North Down by-election for the Alliance, standing again in the 1997 general election.

Prior to his death Oliver Napier was the last prominent member of the Ulster Liberal Party.

Napier served on the board of governors of the first integrated school in Northern Ireland, Lagan College.