David Penhaligon was mourned by many when he died at the age of 42.
Paddy Ashdown, who was very fit and active until shortly before his death at the age of 77 was one the most remarkable politicians this country has ever seen. He had an astonishing early career as a Royal Marine, served in the Special Boat Service, was an interpreter, a diplomat and a spy. He gave up a glamorous lifestyle in Geneva to become the Liberal PPC for Yeovil, a safe Conservative seat where the Liberals always came a poor third.
He was genuinely interested in helping people and by dint of sheer hard work and a very persuasive personality, gradually built up support, becoming MP and the first Leader of the Liberal Democrats.
After leaving frontline British politics, he accepted the post of the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina reflecting his long-time advocacy of international intervention in that region.
Hundreds of people attended his memorial service yesterday at St John's Church in Yeovil. Among those paying public tribute was David Laws, who succeeded him as Yeovil's MP in 2001.
Mr Laws said: "Paddy did some of his best work not just in Yeovil and the United Kingdom, but overseas; in Bosnia; he was a passionate supporter of the European Union and the United Nations.
"But he was very definitely not the 'Citizen of Nowhere' that our current Prime Minister once talked of.
He saw no conflict at all in his loyalty to his home village of Norton-sub-Hamdon, his constituency of Yeovil, his county home of Somerset and his country, but also simultaneously to Bosnia, to the European Union, the United Nations, to the children of Africa he fought for in his Unicef role.
"He rejected a false choice of country or town versus the wider world and he believed instinctively in pulling down the walls and barriers that divide us.
"It is a tragedy that we lost Paddy in our country at a time when he had some much to contribute to the current debates about our future."
