Political doyenne takes centre stage

An evergreen Norfolk politician is swapping the Parliamentary benches for a seaside theatre stage to share light-hearted stories from the serious world of government.

Baroness Gillian Shephard will appear at Sheringham Little Theatre on August 2 in a “double act” with eminent civil servant Robin Butler who is now a fellow member of the House of Lords.

She was MP for South West Norfolk from 1987 to 2005, rising to top ministerial jobs in education, employment and agriculture. After being made a life peer she is now chairman of Association of Conservative Peers and makes weekly trips to London for Lords business.

Long- standing colleague and friend Baron Butler of Brockwell was private secretary to Edward Heath, Harold Wilson and Margaret Thatcher and cabinet security to Thatcher, John Major and Tony Blair.

The pair will recall anecdotes from some lively political times, and open a window into the inner workings of Whitehall and Westminster.

Baroness Shephard, who was born in Cromer, went to school in North Walsham and still lives in North Norfolk, said:” it will be a light-hearted look back at decades of British politics with my friend who has an unparalleled insight into its workings.”

Having been a teacher and schools inspector, she also served on the county council and said” I feel unbelievably fortunate to have had a varied, interesting and frequently hilarious career.”

The evening, called Yes Minister: Fact of Fiction? which starts at 7.30pm on Saturday August 2, is a fundraiser for the Little Theatre, whose chairman Jonathan Beak said: “We really appreciate Gillian doing this event to raise funds for our theatre in North Norfolk which is so close to her heart. She’s had an amazing life, and we cannot wait to hear some of the fascinating stories drawn from it.”

For more information and tickets, which are selling fast, click here or call the box office on 01263 822347.