BLUNT speaking and controversial former head of the British army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, will be talking about his new autobiography at Chepstow's Drill Hall next Friday (October 8).

In a career spanning 38 years, Sir Richard served in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan and was in overall command of the British Army for three years from 2006.

His reputation as a bold speaker and something of a maverick was earned when he clashed with the then Labour government after complaining about "chronic underfunding" of the army throughout the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.

Sir Richard's talk, focusing on his book 'Leading from the Front' will begin at 7.30pm.