First Record?
The first record I bought was ‘Ca Plane Pour Moi’ by Plastic Bertrand. It still gets me bouncing around and makes me smile. My first album was ‘1812 Overture’ by Tchaikovsky from Woolworths. I clearly prefer noisy!
The book you always wanted to read?
It would have to be Marcel Proust’s ‘À La Recherche Du Temps Perdu’. No chance of reading it in French but translated as ‘Remembrance of Things Past’ it becomes my Everest book!
Favourite TV show?
I was captivated by ‘Homeland’; perennially return to ‘West Wing’ and enjoy Kirsty Wark on ‘Newsnight Review’ just to see how big my culture vulture gap is becoming.
Last trip to the theatre/cinema?
‘Ice Age 4’ – I have three boys across an eight-year time frame – movies, bowling and swimming (plus eating) are the group activities.
Most treasured possession?
Various school-made calendars and trinkets which have no monetary value but are priceless to me.
Favourite item of clothing?
A blue fleece that was worn on every train trip to and from London for many years to protect me from spilling coffee and food down myself which, for anyone who knows me, is a huge hazard! It’s died and been replaced with a purple zipper – not the same. I’m also very fond of snazzy tartan slippers – when they’re on, I’m at home!
Teenage hero/idol?
I must out myself as a Donny Osmond fan with a lifelong passion for purple! I was disdainful of the Bay City Rollers and never been keen on three-quarter length trousers edged in tartan – please! Fundamentally I like a good singer. My other teenage passion was amateur dramatics so all those movies with Doris Day and Judy Garland were watched at every opportunity and I’ve learnt all the songs. I’m still word perfect but my boys find this excruciatingly embarrassing so tend to sing to myself in the car and shower.
What do you listen to on the way to work?
It’s got to be Today on Radio 4. I start the day with Farming Today and am usually on the road towards the beginning of the Today programme. My dream team to get me to work are James Naughtie and Evan Davis.
What car do you drive?
Family car for weekends is a bus – otherwise known as a Ford S-Max. My work car is a Lexus Hybrid – in red, my favourite colour. I think it’s really important I live our sustainability agenda so a hybrid it must be. It’s actually fantastic to drive and very, very economical.
Recommend a current book/record
I really enjoyed Doris Kearns Goodwin’s ‘Team of Rivals’. A big one (getting me ready for Proust) but a fascinating insight to Abraham Lincoln’s cabinet – he appointed everyone who ran against him and effectively led and managed them all.
First Record?
The first record I bought was ‘Ca Plane Pour Moi’ by Plastic Bertrand. It still gets me bouncing around and makes me smile. My first album was ‘1812 Overture’ by Tchaikovsky from Woolworths. I clearly prefer noisy!
The book you always wanted to read?
It would have to be Marcel Proust’s ‘À La Recherche Du Temps Perdu’. No chance of reading it in French but translated as ‘Remembrance of Things Past’ it becomes my Everest book!
Favourite TV show?
I was captivated by ‘Homeland’; perennially return to ‘West Wing’ and enjoy Kirsty Wark on ‘Newsnight Review’ just to see how big my culture vulture gap is becoming.
Last trip to the theatre/cinema?
‘Ice Age 4’ – I have three boys across an eight-year time frame – movies, bowling and swimming (plus eating) are the group activities.
Most treasured possession?
Various school-made calendars and trinkets which have no monetary value but are priceless to me.
Favourite item of clothing?
A blue fleece that was worn on every train trip to and from London for many years to protect me from spilling coffee and food down myself which, for anyone who knows me, is a huge hazard! It’s died and been replaced with a purple zipper – not the same. I’m also very fond of snazzy tartan slippers – when they’re on, I’m at home!
Teenage hero/idol?
I must out myself as a Donny Osmond fan with a lifelong passion for purple! I was disdainful of the Bay City Rollers and never been keen on three-quarter length trousers edged in tartan – please! Fundamentally I like a good singer. My other teenage passion was amateur dramatics so all those movies with Doris Day and Judy Garland were watched at every opportunity and I’ve learnt all the songs. I’m still word perfect but my boys find this excruciatingly embarrassing so tend to sing to myself in the car and shower.
What do you listen to on the way to work?
It’s got to be Today on Radio 4. I start the day with Farming Today and am usually on the road towards the beginning of the Today programme. My dream team to get me to work are James Naughtie and Evan Davis.
What car do you drive?
Family car for weekends is a bus – otherwise known as a Ford S-Max. My work car is a Lexus Hybrid – in red, my favourite colour. I think it’s really important I live our sustainability agenda so a hybrid it must be. It’s actually fantastic to drive and very, very economical.
Recommend a current book/record
I really enjoyed Doris Kearns Goodwin’s ‘Team of Rivals’. A big one (getting me ready for Proust) but a fascinating insight to Abraham Lincoln’s cabinet – he appointed everyone who ran against him and effectively led and managed them all.