Former Cabinet Minister Lord Blunkett was the principal guest and speaker at the Club Dinner on 15th March.
Blind since birth, and coming from a poor family in one of Sheffield’s most deprived districts, David Blunkett rose to become, successively, Education & Employment Secretary, Home Secretary and Work & Pensions Secretary in Tony Blair’s Cabinet following the 1997 general election.
Fraser Nelson, Editor of The Spectator, wrote the following: “He was never under-briefed, and never showed any sign of his disability… he was one of Labour’s very best MPs – and one of the very few people in parliament whose life I would describe as inspirational.”
David was elected MP for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough in May 2010, having been the youngest-ever councillor on Sheffield City Council, being elected in 1970 at the age of 22 whilst a teacher. He served on Sheffield City Council from 1970 to 1988 (becoming Leader from 1980 to 1987) and on South Yorkshire County Council from 1973 to 1977.
Following the event the Club sent a donation of £2000 to the Blind Veterans UK charity.