After Dinner Speakers: Rt. Hon. Sir Chris Patten, Maureen Lipman, Russell Watson

Chris Patten, European Commissioner in charge of External Relations was born in 1944 and educated at St. Benedict’s School Ealing, and Balliol College Oxford. From working in the research department of the Conservative Party he was elected to parliament in 1979 and went on to become Minister of State in Education, Overseas Development and the Environment before sensationally loosing his seat in 1992. He then became Hong Kongs last governor overseeing its return to Chinese rule in 1999 before his latest move to the European Commission. A highly regarded politician Chris Patten speaks with authority on European and World issues and the years in power of Margaret Thatcher and John Major.