FORMER Cabinet Minister Lord David Blunkett was the principal guest and speaker at a dinner held by Chester Business Club Dinner.

Blind since birth, and coming from a poor family in one of Sheffield’s most deprived districts, Lord Blunkett rose to become Education and Employment Secretary, Home Secretary and Work and Pensions Secretary in Tony Blair’s Cabinet following the 1997 general election.

In a speech full of personal and parliamentary anecdotes, he told of his continuing friendship with both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown saying: "I’m probably the only person to regard both of them as real friends!"

He also told a packed audience at the Queen Hotel of his early years as the youngest-ever councillor on Sheffield City Council, being elected in 1970 at the age of 22 whilst a teacher.

Paddy Gill, CBC chairman, said: "What a pleasure it was to have David as our guest speaker and to hear his inspirational story."

Lord Blunkett is an ambassador of the Blind Veterans UK charity and to mark his visit the club has donated £2,000 to their funds.