North Devon Liberal Democrats are saddened to hear of the death of former Leader and inspirational campaigner, Paddy Ashdown.

Lord Ashdown died today, 22nd December 2018 from bladder cancer.

He was a life-long public servant as a Royal Marine, diplomat, MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and a Peer in the House of Lords.

Paddy Ashdown was a regular visitor to North Devon where he was loved by many.

Paddy had very close connections with North Devon.  A really great Leader of the new Liberal Democrat Party formed in March 1988.  I was Local Party Secretary then (!) and I believe Mike Knight was Chair.  We had a massive lunch of the new Party at the Barnstaple Hotel which I jointly organised.

This photo was taken in April 2010 when Paddy came to Chivenor to help campaign for Nick in the 2010 General Election.  Joe Tucker and Paddy made a brilliant campaign duo!! – marching around and giving orders!!  A first class military exercise!  (pic courtesy of Derrick).

Paddy will be sorely missed.

Liz (& Derrick) Spear

Picture shows Paddy Ashdown campaigning with Nick Harvey, Joe Tucker, Liz Spear and other North Devon campaigners at Chivenor during the 2010 General Election.

Kirsten Johnson, an internationally acclaimed concert pianist and Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (PPC) for North Devon, attended the Young Musicians' Support (YMS) Concert at St Anne's Chapel, Barnstaple, on Saturday 15 December, 3pm.

Kirsten says "I was impressed with the high standard of musicianship and the talent on display. Well done to YMS for sponsoring lessons for young people and building up the future generation of musicians in this country."

Kirsten Johnson, Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for North Devon, attended the Barnstaple Library Friends coffee morning on Saturday 15 December. She had a good chat with the Friends. Austerity measures mean that libraries now receive very little funding. Provision of library services, particularly in rural locations have been cut after funding was withdrawn by Conservative Devon County Council as a result of central Government austerity measures. Many local people in North Devon have fought long and hard to prevent these vital services from being cut further.

Kirsten Johnson, the first woman to be selected by the Liberal Democrats to become MP for North Devon, hosted a commemorative Coffee Morning at Barnstaple Library on Friday 14^th December, 2018 from 10.30am until 12.30pm. This marked the date, to the day, when 100 years ago, some women first got the right to vote in the UK.

Kirsten was joined by nearly 100 people, of all ages, from across North Devon who shared their thoughts on the importance of female suffrage; the progress that has been made on women’s issues since 1918 and the work that still needs to be done.

Kirsten Johnson, Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (PPC) for North Devon, visited the Winter Wonderland in South Molton, which included a range of stalls in the Assembly Rooms and in the Pannier Market. She listened to the Children's Choir from West Buckland Prep School and enjoyed the fairground attractions in the square.

Kirsten also attended the superb Christmas Tree Festival at St Mary Magdalene Church. 

Kirsten Johnson, the first woman to be selected by the Liberal Democrats to become MP for North Devon, is hosting a commemorative Coffee Morning at Barnstaple Library on Friday 14^th December, 2018 from 10.30am until 12.30pm. This marks the date, to the day, when 100 years ago, some women first got the right to vote in the UK.

Kirsten will be joined by women from across North Devon who will share their thoughts on the importance of female suffrage; the progress that has been made on women’s issues since 1918 and the work that still needs to be done.

North Devon Lib Dems and Kirsten Johnson, Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (PPC) for North Devon, have campaigned since 2016 for the MoD to make a decision to retain and expand RMB Chivenor. This week Senior Westminster sources have indicated to them that a decision will be made and announced in the near future.

Kirsten Johnson, the first female Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (PPC) for North Devon, is to address the Barnstaple and Blackmoor Gate NFU Open AGM on Thursday, November 29^th. The meeting will be held at the Portmore Golf Club, Landkey. Kirsten is attending at the invitation of Barnstaple NFU Chairman, David Chugg.

Kirsten has already attended the NFU Harvest Festival in October and had a meeting with Liv Phoenix, NFU External Affairs Manager in September. Kirsten says, “I am delighted to have been invited to speak to the Barnstaple and Blackmoor Gate NFU in North Devon, where agriculture, food and farming are vital parts of our culture and economic prosperity. The future for farming is daunting – with Defra’s own statistics showing that up to 25% of farms will be forced to shut down as a result of increased tariffs and the removal of CAP subsidies. I welcome this opportunity to continue to meet some of our farmers and agri-employers, in my role as the N Devon Lib Dem PPC: working hard on issues that really matter to North Devon”.

The motion put to full North Devon District Council to save Appledore Shipyard and Royal Marine Base (RMB) Chivenor, by Lib Dem Group Leader, Cllr David Worden, was passed unanimously on Thursday, November 21^st.

Cllr Worden says, “I am glad that politicians from across the political divide, were able to unite to support my call to save Appledore Shipyard and RMB Chivenor. Both are vital sources of employment in Northern Devon and the closure of both would be a hammer blow to the area”.

Read the full motion here.