Building peace is the motif of Paddy Ashdown’s life. That’s what emerged from An Audience with the man himself at The Theatre in Headington. Bookending his talk, as he does his new autobiography, with heart-rending encounters of the battlefields of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lord Ashdown blew away thoughts that he’s just a former Lib Dem leader.
A soldier, member of the special boat service and spy; only latterly a member of parliament, political leader and international intermediary, Paddy Ashdown has led a surprisingly varied life. Learning six languages – including Malay and Chinese – his high-energy approach to life has always crossed international boundaries. And he filled the first half of his appearance in Oxford with anecdotes and touchstone moments.
Cantering through his career – and scattergunning some good-humoured barrack room jokes – Lord Ashdown seemed to skim too quickly, using the chapters of his new book as signposts along the way. As a selling point for his autobiography, it was though, inspired. A rip-roaring, adventuresome story and Ashdown has a wonderful, immensely fluid verbal style.
Headington Theatre’s series of Audience… evenings carries the same format. A first half talk, then second half questions. Usually that leaves you wanting more upfront talk from the guest. But Lord Ashdown got down to some really serious business after an interval of book-signing and friendly chatting, and delivered some free, frank and thoughtful opinions.
M.P.’s expenses scandal ? Lord Ashdown’s chipper demeanour grew grave – a disaster for democracy, he said. Only a general election would clear the air – but real reform was necessary. Arab-Israeli peace really achievable? Lord Ashdown was upbeat. Yes, time is the healer; that and a partitioned, jointly-governed Jerusalem.
Barrack Obama’s first few months? A success: Obama and Nelson Mandela were the greatest men on earth, a triumph, said Ashdown, for progress. How about Speaker Martin though? Was he welcome in the House of Lords? Ashdown thought for a long while, and then bit the bullet: no, he wasn’t, he’d let the House down. Who should replace him? Frank Field, said Ashdown, or Menzies Campbell.
What was he writing next? A novel? Yes, a thriller. No surprise, really, given the range of Ashdown’s adventuresome life. He looked sheepish, though, admitting, “I don’t know if I can do it. Making up stories”. Having had so many stories happen to him, you can see his point.
And there’s the rub. An Audience with Paddy Ashdown only scratched the surface of an incredibly varied life. But the raw power of Ashdown’s eloquence gave full force to the ideas and experiences that still mark him out as a formidable – almost a necessary – international player. We may not see his like again. Lucky for Oxford that we saw him at all.
A soldier, member of the special boat service and spy; only latterly a member of parliament, political leader and international intermediary, Paddy Ashdown has led a surprisingly varied life. Learning six languages – including Malay and Chinese – his high-energy approach to life has always crossed international boundaries. And he filled the first half of his appearance in Oxford with anecdotes and touchstone moments.
Cantering through his career – and scattergunning some good-humoured barrack room jokes – Lord Ashdown seemed to skim too quickly, using the chapters of his new book as signposts along the way. As a selling point for his autobiography, it was though, inspired. A rip-roaring, adventuresome story and Ashdown has a wonderful, immensely fluid verbal style.
Headington Theatre’s series of Audience… evenings carries the same format. A first half talk, then second half questions. Usually that leaves you wanting more upfront talk from the guest. But Lord Ashdown got down to some really serious business after an interval of book-signing and friendly chatting, and delivered some free, frank and thoughtful opinions.
M.P.’s expenses scandal ? Lord Ashdown’s chipper demeanour grew grave – a disaster for democracy, he said. Only a general election would clear the air – but real reform was necessary. Arab-Israeli peace really achievable? Lord Ashdown was upbeat. Yes, time is the healer; that and a partitioned, jointly-governed Jerusalem.
Barrack Obama’s first few months? A success: Obama and Nelson Mandela were the greatest men on earth, a triumph, said Ashdown, for progress. How about Speaker Martin though? Was he welcome in the House of Lords? Ashdown thought for a long while, and then bit the bullet: no, he wasn’t, he’d let the House down. Who should replace him? Frank Field, said Ashdown, or Menzies Campbell.
What was he writing next? A novel? Yes, a thriller. No surprise, really, given the range of Ashdown’s adventuresome life. He looked sheepish, though, admitting, “I don’t know if I can do it. Making up stories”. Having had so many stories happen to him, you can see his point.
And there’s the rub. An Audience with Paddy Ashdown only scratched the surface of an incredibly varied life. But the raw power of Ashdown’s eloquence gave full force to the ideas and experiences that still mark him out as a formidable – almost a necessary – international player. We may not see his like again. Lucky for Oxford that we saw him at all.