After Dinner Speakers: Matthew Parris, Gilbert O'Sullivan, Michael Whitaker

Matthew Parris spent two years working at the foreign office followed by a spell in Mrs Thatcher's Office from 1977 to 1979. He was the Elected Member of Parliament for West Derbyshire in 1979, but in 1986 he gave up his seat to become presenter of LWT's 'Weekend World', a political interview programme.A keen mountaineer, Matthew has also led expeditions to Mount Kilimanjaro and several other destinations. He has been a scetchwriter, a journalist for the Spectator and other magazines, and the author of numerous books about politics and his travels.Matthew's style is often humorous and light hearted, but with such an outstanding professional background he is also an accomplished conference speaker.