My dad taught me lots of things. One of the most useful was how to whistle. I’m not talking a girly, little tuneful warble but a full on builders, 4 fingers, ear-splitting head-turning number. And boy has it been useful. I remember one particular occasion Piccadilly Circus a Saturday night when the theatres had kicked out and everyone and his mother was after a taxi. I stood with a friend and whistled. Next thing I knew was up pulled a black cab and, no word of a lie, driven by my cousin’s husband!!! Well it wasn’t taxis last weekend I was after it was keeping the channel clear and the public safe on the water at Exmouth as I did my first duty with the Exeter Port Authority as a volunteer for the Exmouth Harbour Master! What a fantastic experience and it couldn’t have been a better day. Blue skies that old yellow ball showing off and calm waters. It is staggering that in this safety conscious litigation age anyone can get on board a boat or any other engine powered craft and take to the water with little or no idea of where or how to behave. Now I have to admit I love jet skis they are just such great, great fun BUT you cant launch off a beach full of kiddies and adults paddling and swimming into the main shipping channel and go as fast as you like doing the water equivalent of wheelies! It just doesn’t make sense. It’d be like pulling out of a layby on the M1 in a Ferrari into the middle lane and giving it some welly …and without even having passed a test ..just crazy. So that whistle came in very handy calling, not just lads, but family men and women with little ‘uns between them, over to our patrol boat the City of Exeter and reminding them that the speed limit is 10 knots and explaining where it is safe for them and others to let rip! I have to say everyone was very sorry and understanding although we did have a couple of repeat offenders. To think that just two days before I had been making crowns of flowers with the British Academy of Floral Art to give to members of the public at Toby Buckland’s Flower Festival at Powderham Castle. Now I’ve only worn flowers in my hair on two occasions. The first was as a bridesmaid at my sisters wedding. I was 12 at that trixy stage between dolls and boys, lanky and ginger with freckles and my sister chose to put me in a pink meringue of a short frock! Worse still I wore white ankle socks with a frill and pink ballet pumps. Even worse the other bridesmaid was 6, petite and dark and looked like she’d just stepped out of one of those music boxes! My cousin wanted to repeat the whole thing when she borrowed my sister’s dress for her wedding! Took me years to recover. The next time was almost as humiliating. It was 2000 and The Queen Mother’s 100^th birthday Parade in Horse Guard’s Parade. The National Trust took part and wanted to showcase their costumes and I was asked to be Spring. I thought I looked quite good ….till I stood next to The Goddess Flora …..Jerry Hall! I was suddenly back as that 12 year old in pink frou frou and frilly socks!

I have to say all the ladies at Powderham looked fab. We even made a crown for a dog that just managed to pose for a photo  ..after I’d whistled of course!

Read all about it: Western Morning News