Lord Paddy Ashdown was a man for “ideals, not shabby deals”, a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in honour of the former Liberal Democrat leader has heard.
Describing Lord Ashdown as a “political opponent who became a friend”, Sir John said: “Not one moment of Paddy’s life and times was ever wasted.
“He was always an internationalist, wedded to reason and consensus and dismissive of tribal politics. A man for ideals, not shabby deals.”
He then served as high commissioner for Bosnia and Herzegovina where Sir John said he faced death threats with customary humour.
The ex-PM told the service that when Lord Ashdown was informed Serbian gangsters had put a 2 million euro price on his head, he replied: “It’s not enough.”
Sir John said: “Paddy asked, ‘Has anyone here ever tried to blow up a petrol station? Well I have, and it isn’t easy’.
“Paddy never claimed to be a saint, but he was a good man. Bigotry and injustice had no place in his world.”
Lib Dem former deputy prime minister Sir Nick Clegg made a reading.
Lord Ashdown died at the age of 77 in December 2018, two months after revealing he was being treated for bladder cancer.
