A woman of importance

It's always maddening when you want to go to two functions at the same time. I had invitations to attend the opening of the new Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art at Kew Gardens as well as to a fundraising dinner at Lords for St Woolos Cathedral in Newport. I dashed off to Kew not quite sure what to expect, but should have realised that if Dr Shirley Sherwood was involved it would be well worth the visit. The architectural design of the gallery is magnificent, and allows one to look at the collection of drawings and watercolours in natural light. The evening was a triumph for Shirley and she should be rightly proud that in her lifetime she has gathered together - to quote the guest speaker, Sir David Attenborough - the finest collection of botanical drawings and watercolours in the world.

I had to dash off to my mini just as they sat down for dinner, in order to join Mary in the Long Room at Lords. The auction raised £12,250 for the cathedral appeal. Most of the guests, who had travelled up in coaches from Wales that afternoon to attend the function, then had to travel back down to Wales after the dinner. Poor things, I felt for them as I climbed into bed 30 minutes later.