Former prominent British politician and Liberal-Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown has confirmed his participation in this year’s edition of the Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival.
The Rt Hon Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon GCMG KBE PC will be speaking about his latest book ‘Game of Spies’ recently published by HarperCollins.
The book has been described by critics as “a riveting three-way spy story set in occupied France,” where three men, British, French and German are involved in a lethal undercover struggle in Bordeaux between 1942 and 1944.
With his vast military, diplomatic and political background, Lord Ashdown was well placed to write this thorough account of the activities of the French resistance, the Gestapo and Special Operations Executive in the Vercors region, presenting a fascinating portrayal of the prevalent atmosphere of collaboration, betrayal and assassination.
Lord Ashdown 75, has a distinguished political, military and diplomatic career behind him.
A trained British army Special Forces operative, he saw active service as a Commando Officer in Borneo and the Persian Gulf and commanded a Special Boat Section in the Far East.
In 1972 he left the Royal Marines and joined the Foreign Office. As a delegate of the UN British Mission in Geneva, he was involved in the negotiation of international treaties between 1974 and 1976.
He became a Liberal MP for the Yeovil constituency in the 1983 General Elections within the Liberal/SDP Alliance and was elected leader of the newly formed Liberal Democrats in 1988.
A member of the Privy Councillor since 1989, Lord Ashdown stood down as leader of the Liberal Democrats in 1999 and retired from the Commons in 2001.
Lord Ashdown was the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 2002 until 2006.
On his return to Britain in 2006, he was awarded the GCMG for his work in Bosnia.
He is now acknowledged as one of the foremost experts on the Balkans region in Europe. Lord Ashdown was made a KBE in 2000 and a peer in 2001.
He was awarded the GCMG in the 2006 New Year’s Honours List, for his work in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
