LORNA WATKINSON
Who is your favourite author and why? The secret diary of a young doctor is exposed in the book This is Going to Hurt and author Adam Kay’s funny yet harrowing account of life on a hospital ward was responsible for removing any lingering regrets that I may have had about not studying Medicine at university. I think I had a lucky escape. What would be your three Desert Island Discs? The rock and roll rhythm in Eddie Cochran’s C’mon Everybody brings out the rebel in me while Reach for the Stars by S Club 7 reminds me about goals and targets – very appropriate in today’s changing business world. I love The Greatest Showman and my final choice would be “This is me” by Keala Settle – a great song to sing when you need a self confidence boost. Who is your favourite film star and why? Hugh Jackman because he taught at my school, Uppingham School in Rutland for a year and because I love The Greatest Showman. What are your top three films ? I’ve already mentioned The Greatest Showman and carrying on in the musical theatre vein, you can’t beat Les Misérables. It’s a fantastic story that has everything in it – morality, love, conflict, humour and of course incredible songs. Steel Magnolias is my third choice and it’s about the bonds of friendship – something that I prize very highly in my life. Which poem left a lasting impression on you? An Epitaph on my Own Friend by Robert Burns. The final two lines “If there’s another world, he lives in bliss; If there is none, he made the best of this,” a lovely way to be looked upon when we inevitably move on. What box sets have you enjoyed? I must say that with online technology allowing you to dip in and out of TV series at the flick of a switch it is sometimes difficult to choose what to watch. I was hooked (like most of the world) to Game of Thrones which I thought was one of the best series I’ve seen in many years. For sheer immersion in the plot, you can’t get any more gripping than Line of Duty and I’m so looking forward to the next series. My final choice is The Good Wife one of the best legal and political dramas I’ve seen. Who is your favourite artist or performer? As someone who grew up in the 80’s, Madonna has always been in my musical library. She is so versatile and has many different styles and skills to her credit including singing, acting, dancing and song writing. In today’s changing business world, it’s very important to be able to adapt and move from one skill to another to survive and Madonna is an excellent role model for this. What is your favourite venue? I don’t tend to go to concerts or theatres very often, even pre COVID, so my favourite venue is my home where I can spend time with my family watching TV or playing Monopoly. Which musical instrument do you particularly enjoy? I love the rich, mellow and warm sound of the Clarinet. From the world of Arts and Culture who would be your ideal dinner party guests? I make no excuses for inviting my first guest, Hugh Jackman. I’d love to hear about his films and music at first hand. Keeping the musical theme, I’d also invite composer Sally Herbert who has worked with Florence and the Machine, Mumford and Sons and Liam Gallagher. Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is my next choice. I enjoy both her fiction and nonfiction work and I also relate to many of her views and outlook on life. Finally, Nicole Kidman would complete my table. I’d love to hear about her life with Tom Cruise and chat about the most iconic movie of the 80’s – Top Gun