LADY Louisa Portal is the current High Sheriff of Hampshire.

Mother-of-three Lady Louisa Portal, who lives in Ashe, near Basingstoke with her husband Jonathan, became the High Sheriff of Hampshire for 2015/16 at a ceremony in April.

As part of her new role, the 55-year-old is The Queen’s representative across Hampshire for all matters relating to law and order and she will provide support to the police, probation service, law enforcement agencies, emergency services and faith groups.

Lady Portal will also support the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Nigel Atkinson, on his visits and will support local charities and organisations involved in crime reduction. She has also been president of the Basingstoke West Scout District since 1999 and was awarded an MBE for services to music and scouting in 2014.

1. What is your most precious possession and why is it important to you? My engagement ring.

2. What was the first record you bought? Don McLean’s American Pie.

3. What is the radio/television show you hate to miss? News at Ten.

4. What is your favourite film? Any James Bond film.

5. What is your pet hate? Not being able to contact people: “Press button 6, press button 7, ‘your call is important to us’ ‘we’re very busy’…

6. What are you reading at the moment? Of living Valour – The Soldiers of Waterloo, by Barney White-Spunner.

7. If you were choosing a last meal, what would it be? Turkey feast.

8. If you could meet anyone from history, who would it be? Charles Dickens.

9. If you had a time machine where would it take you? 1795, when Jane Austen was 20 and would have been walking round the lanes where we live.

10. If you were stranded on a desert island what luxury would you choose? A well equipped bathroom.

11. What team do you support? Any team my sons are playing in.

12. What was your first job? Working at a greengrocer’s shop in Southwell when I was 15.

13. If you could take over someone’s job for the day, whose job would you choose? The headteacher of a school.

14. What worries you the most? Getting rid of Trident.

15. What is your proudest moment? Marrying Jonathan.

16. What would you like your epitaph to be? That I did my best.

17. What’s your guilty pleasure? Cream tea.

18. What one thing could change society for the better? Brilliant schools for everyone.

19. Who is your childhood hero? Beatrix Potter because I just loved being transported into her world and Babar the Elephant.

20. What three words best describe you? That’s for others to answer!