Their lives have taken very different paths since they last saw each other about 50 years ago, so Lord Paddy Ashdown and Spalding RBL vice-chairman Frank White had plenty to catch up on when they met up at Bookmark last week.
The pair were in the Royal Marines’ 42 Commandos, serving in Singapore. Lord Ashdown was a lieutenant and Frank a corporal – and the peer instantly recognised his former colleague on Thursday.
Frank said: “We had a good chat about old times.”
Lord Ashdown was promoting his latest book, The Cruel Victory.
It was his third visit to the bookshop – and very popular despite a clash with England’s World Cup match against Uruguay. More than 100 people heard him give a talk and answer questions.
Bookmark staff member Clare Redford: “He’s always very popular and was greeting everyone as they came through the door.”
Sales of the French Resistance book went well during the signing.
