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Lord Paddy Ashdown: Memorial for 'man of duty' Memorial held for ex-Lib Dem leader Lord Paddy Ashdown
(about 4 hours later)
Lord Ashdown's widow said her husband was so committed to public service, he had "duty written underneath his skin". A memorial service has been held to honour former MP and Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown.
Lady Jane Ashdown spoke to the BBC as a public memorial service was held for the former leader of the Liberal Democrats. Lord Ashdown was described in tributes as "hard working and courageous" and an "all round good guy".
Paddy Ashdown died in December 2018 aged 77, two months after being diagnosed with bladder cancer. His widow Jane said her husband was so committed to public service he had "duty written underneath his skin".
His wife of 56 years said "he didn't want accolades" for his life. She and the couple's children, Simon and Kate, were joined by about 300 people at the service at St John's Church, Yeovil.
Born Jeremy John Durham Ashdown, he was given the nickname Paddy when he moved to England, after spending his childhood in Northern Ireland. Lord Ashdown died in December aged 77, two months after being diagnosed with bladder cancer.
Jane Ashdown said they first met when she accompanied her cousin to the Royal Marines' Christmas ball. Among those paying tribute to him were his successor, Yeovil MP David Laws, and the Lib Dems' former MP for Wells, Tessa Munt.
"He'd taken his cousin along too, but he knocked on the door of the wrong cousin" when he came to pick her up from the local hotel, she said. Mr Laws listed Paddy's attributes as his "compassion and commitment to service", "hard work" and "courage".
In 1976, Ashdown was selected as the Liberal candidate in his wife's home constituency of Yeovil, but it took until the 1983 election for him to win the seat. He remembers the advice Paddy gave him as he succeeded him in 2001: "He took me aside and gave me some very clear advice: 'In your speeches, make a maximum of three points, politicians can't grasp more than three of anything'.
"He never seemed to rest, and even in an occupation in which many work hard, he was really quite exceptional.
"Every hour of the day was filled with activity and never as a spectator. He was an outstanding constituency MP for our area."
Jeremy John Durham Ashdown was given the nickname Paddy when he moved to England, after spending his childhood in Northern Ireland.
In 1976, he was selected as the Liberal candidate in his wife's home constituency of Yeovil, but it took until the 1983 election for him to win the seat.
He went on to become the first elected and longest serving leader of the Liberal Democrats, between 1988 and 1999.He went on to become the first elected and longest serving leader of the Liberal Democrats, between 1988 and 1999.
Lady Ashdown confirmed the rumour that he was once offered the position of Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
She said: "Gordon Brown offered him the role... which would have been a poisoned chalice for a Northern Irishman, and he said 'no'."
During his time as the United Nation's high representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina, he forced through major political, economic and security reforms.During his time as the United Nation's high representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina, he forced through major political, economic and security reforms.
To his long-term partner, however, it was "duty" that was under his skin: "He was one of those people who, if you peeled back the first couple of layers of skin, there was 'duty' written underneath" she said. His wife remembers that during this time he was either loved or hated: "They either put a price on his head or hugged him to death, it was one or the other."
A public memorial service is taking place at St Johns Church in Yeovil. She said her husband would want to be remembered as "an all round good guy" and added: "He was one of those people who, if you peeled back the first couple of layers of skin, there was 'duty' written underneath."