'Action man of British politics' at Clacton theatre (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)
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Paddy Ashdown guest of Arts and Lits Society
3:00pm Sunday 27th January 2013 in News
'Action man of British politics' at Clacton theatre
FORMER Lib Dem leader and Marine commando Paddy Ashdown - dubbed the “action man of British politics” - is in Clacton tomorrow night.
From the front line to the frontbench, he has certainly seen his fair share of excitement and drama.
It has been an interesting life for Lord Ashdown, who is special guest of Clacton Arts and Lits.
From 1959 to 1972, he served as a Royal Marines officer and saw active service as a commando in Borneo and the Persian Gulf.
After Special Forces training, he commanded a Special Boat Section in the Far East, got a first class degree in Mandarin after studying in Hong Kong and led a commando company in Belfast.
After being elected MP in 1983, a meteoric rise saw him elected Lib Dem leader just five years later.
He remained leader until 1999 and retired from the Commons two years later, when he became Lord Ashdown.
He was knighted in 2000 and awarded the GCMG in the 2006 New Year’s Honours List for his work in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Lord Ashdown is at the Princes Theatre on Monday night.
Tickets go on sale to the public at 7.15pm, priced £10.
