Published on 8th March, 2021
Who has been the most influential female role model in your life?
My mother, who recently died aged 101, was without question the most influential female role model in my life – I wish she was still alive for me to remind her of that.
Who is your favourite author?
If it’s a male, William Boyd for all his wonderful books. I’ve loved every one of them that I’ve read. And if it’s a woman, possibly Catherine Bailey for her investigative journalistic Black Diamonds, The Secret Rooms and Fey’s War. Also Melanie Reid, the Times Columnist, who writes every Saturday for the colour supplement – The Spinal Column.
What is the oldest item of clothing in your wardrobe?
I can no longer wear almost any of the clothes I wore before I broke my back but I did keep at least 2 favourite dresses because I couldn’t bear to part with them. One is a short black crepe evening dress with a tiny velvet bolero jacket, fashionable 20 years ago. The other is a tightly tailored blue brocade dress which was made for me and which also had a matching coat. Nothing else remains from my former days, sadly.
Which 3 females (alive or dead) would you invite to a dinner party and why?
My perfect dinner party of 3 women of any time would be…
- Mary Queen of Scots
- My Great Grandmother
- Queen Elizabeth II
What is your earliest memory of the Royal Bath & West Show?
Sitting in the lorry park on the ramp of a horse lorry which belonged to people who had driven, with their daughter and her brilliant show jumping pony, from South Wales to compete. Boiling hot weather, sunshine and rosettes, ice cream, happiness and commotion everywhere….absolutely marvellous!
