One of this country’s most distinguished politician has published his long-awaited autobiography at the ripe age of 94.

Sir Patrick Duffy, was Member of Parliament for the Colne Valley from 1963 to 1966 and went on to rub shoulders with some of the most influential leaders in the world ranging from Margaret Thatcher to Pope John Paull II.

His life was dominated by industrial, military and political strife and began with the struggles of his father in the Wigan and Doncaster coalfields and his own recollections of the General Strike of 1926.

He was a Labour Member of Parliament for Colne Valley 1963-1966, and for Sheffield Attercliffe 1970-1992. He was a Minister of the Navy in the 1970s, and President of the NATO Assembly in the 1980s.

Duffy was educated at the London School of Economics and Columbia University, and served in the Fleet Air Arm in World War II. He contested the Parliamentary seat of Tiverton in 1950, 1951 and 1955 before moving to the more promising seat of Colne Valley.

His book also describes his experience as a teenage ordinary seaman in a battle cruiser in the early months of World War Two – never dreaming that one day he would chair the Board of Admiralty.

While still a student at the London School of Economics he contested the Tiverton constituency in Devon in 1950 and later the Attercliffe division of Sheffield in 1970.

Inevitably he became involved in Irish politics following his arrival in Westminster and was very close personally to two of the best-known Secretaries-of-State, Merlyn Rees and Roy Mason for whom he had been private parliamentary secretary.

Later he swopped his Westminster career for the NATO presidency in the 1980s which opened doors to everyone giving him access to Brussels, the Pentagon, Kremlin and the White House.

Sir Patrick, who lives in Doncaster, never married though he says he was not short of attractive female company during his many years in office.

He says he is looking forward to meeting the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, at his office in Merrion Square.

A charming man, he has pursued a fascinating double existence given his Irish and British pedigree, but says he would not like to say “who he supports when England play Ireland at football or rugby.”

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