Lavender list

Sorry to hark on about Patten; he's declared himself in favour of more, older women on the BBC.

In his Observer interview with Rachel Cooke, the BBC Chairman explained himself thus: "First of all, I'm 67, for heaven's sake, and I'm married to a charming and beautiful 66-year-old, and I would be delighted if she was the face of anything on television".

Delighted to help. What can we suggest for Lady Patten of Barnes, formerly Mary Lavender St Leger Patten nee Thornton ?

Relocation, relocation. Lady Patten and family followed the Governor to Hong Kong for five years (though he commuted to Brussels when EU Commissioner, and to Belfast, when trying to sort out Northern Ireland policing). Home is Barnes, but she does seem to have an interest in a property management company in Woodstock Road, Oxford.

Holiday 2012. The family doesn't stint on breaks. There's the house in Les Cabannes, north of Toulouse in France profonde. South Africa, where Lavender spent some time before meeting Chris at Oxford University, was a recent, vinous trip. There've been visits to Jordan and India. The Galapagos are on the wish list.

Sounds of the Seventies.  Older Tories were sceptical of Lavender's dress-style as an MPs wife in the 70s. According to Michael White, they used to mutter "hippy" under their breath.  She still favours purple scarves.

World Food. Husband likes classy, classic food, but only has two recipes - beef casserole, and something with scallops - so it's safe to say that Lavvy looks after the cooking, when Chris is not. He can help with the wine-matching.

BBC Sport: Golf and tennis are her favoured sporting pastimes; she's been spotted several times on Centre Court.

Law in Action: Lav switched from classics to law at St Hilda's Oxford. She formally qualified as a barrister in 1987.  She now works sometimes on divorce mediation for a group in Twickenham.