Lord Ashdown remembered

HRH The Duke of York was represented by The Lord Boyce KC KCB OBE KStJ DL; HRH The Princess Royal was presented by Mr Russell Corn; and HRH Prince Michael of Kent was presented by Lieutenant Colonel Neil Watkinson RM. HE The President of Bosnia Herzegovina, Mr Željko Komšić, also attended.

The service was conducted by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall, who said in his Bidding:

We come to give thanks to almighty God and to celebrate a man whose restless life embraced the Royal Marines, the diplomatic service, membership of Parliament in both Houses, the leadership of a political party, and finally a triumphant period of successful command representing the United Nations and the European Union in strife-torn Bosnia and Herzegovina.

At this time, we continue to pray in particular for the justice and peace for which Lord Ashdown worked in a world too riven by faction and fear.

At the start of the service, the Standard of the Royal Marines Association and Lord Ashdown's Royal Marine's Officers' Sword were brought forward by Michael Shannon, Royal Marines Association, and Matthias Theurel, grandson, and placed on the High Altar by the Dean.

Major General Matthew Holmes CBE DSO, Commandant General Royal Marines, read the Royal Marines Prayer.

Alisoun Downing, sister, read a Tribute. Husein Kavazović, the Grand Mufti of Bosnia and Herzegovina, read from Qur'an 16: 90-97.

The Reverend Peter Thomas, former Priest-in-Charge and former Rector of Norton-sub-Hamdon, read Isaiah 52: 7-12; and the Rt Hon The Baroness Grender MBE read 2 St Timothy 4: 1-7

The Rt Hon Sir John Major KG CH gave the Address.