Secrets of a Special Advisor

The Club was delighted to welcome to the zoom meeting Monday 26 October Peter Cardwell, who kindly spared the time on the very busy launch day of his book – Secrets of a Special Advisor. Peter regaled members with a fascinating insight into the role of a SpAd, some of his highlights in his 3½years as a special adviser to 4 Cabinet Ministers in 4 departments and the perks and pitfalls of the job. His extremely well-received address, followed by a lively Q&A, whetted everybody’s appetite to buy his book! Peter also stated he was delighted to speak to the Club and was very grateful for all it and Rotary had done for him. He was one of the winners of the Rotary Ireland Youth Leadership Competition and went to Strasbourg (selected by the Rotary Club of Portadown) and having been nominated by the Belfast Club was selected for the Rotary Foundation's Group Study Exchange (GSE) programme 5 week trip to New Zealand in 2013 led by Past President Marnette Lyons. He was particularly pleased to note that he still keeps in touch with the group members.