Paddy Ashdown

Lord Paddy Ashdown needs little introduction. During his distinguished career he has had many incarnations: Royal Marine and member of the Special Boat Service; international diplomat; career politician, Privy Councillor and first leader of the Liberal Democrats, leading them to their best ever election result in 1997.

Resigning from British politics, and passionately concerned with the Bosnian Civil War, he became international High Representative for Bosnia in 2002. his latest book A Brilliant Little Operation is the first full account of how the Cockleshell Heroes mounted the greatest commando raid of WW2, on Bordeaux harbour in 1942 - told by the man who served in the Special Boat Section formed after it.

The Sunday Times described his autobiography A Fortunate Life as ‘Fascinating and uplifting and genuinely heroic, the sort of book you should read to your kids, just to let them know what can be done’. Paddy Ashdown’s extraordinary range of national and international experience guarantees a fascinating evening.