Each week we shine the spotlight on a prominent person in Dorset and ask him, or her, for answers to our part fun/part serious questionnaire. This time…

Her favourite smell is fish & chips or freshly cut grass, she chooses Maria von Trapp from The Sound of Music as her childhood hero, gets angry at unjust behaviour and names the beach as her favourite place in Dorset.

Maria Tidy, Community Liaison Officer, Sheltered Work Opportunities Project (SWOP), takes the ‘hot seat’ for our popular 20 Questions.

Question: What is your favourite TV show?

Answer: The Great British Bake Off and Come Dine with Me. I love to bake when I have the time and it’s interesting to see different people’s personalities come out when sitting around a dinner table with a bunch of strangers.

Q: Who would you like to share a car with?

A: Dame Julie Andrews. She has had such an amazing career from being ‘practically perfect in every way’ as Mary Poppins to, more recently, voicing the narrator Lady Whistledown in Bridgerton. I think she would be really interesting to chat to.

Q: The best bit of my job is…?

A: I love all of my job but the best bit is probably the pride and satisfaction of knowing that everything I do is to help somebody else.

Q: And the worst?

A: Nothing. I am lucky enough to enjoy everything about what I do.

Q: Who was your childhood hero?

A: Maria von Trapp (my namesake). The Sound of Music was my favourite film as a kid; I watched it over and over again and I knew all of the words. My ambition was to be a nun with seven children – hahaha!

Q: What’s your favourite smell?

A: Freshly cut grass or fish & chips. It depends on how hungry I am. Obviously, I don’t eat grass!

Q: Where’s your favourite place in Dorset?

A: Although I HATE sand, Winston, the golden retriever who owns me, has taught me to love the beach.

Q: What advice would you give to anyone starting out on a career?

A: Seek advice. Talk to as many people as you can and ask lots of questions. There is so much support available in Dorset and so many people willing and able to help.

Q: What was your first record/CD?

A: Abba’s Greatest Hits. Is this question designed to give away our ages?

Q: What gets you angry?

A: Unjust behaviour.

Q: Do you have a favourite piece of music?

A: I LOVE the music of Les Misérables. I could listen to it on repeat all day long.

Q: What are the qualities you look for in a new employee?

A: Integrity and a good sense of humour.

Q: What’s your favourite food or dish?

A: This question is too tricky, I just love food. Perhaps a good home cooked roastie or Christmas dinner with apple crumble for pudding.

Q: Steamed sponge pudding and custard or a plate of melon?

A: Steamed pudding – sticky toffee with lots of sauce and ice cream.

Q: Name the best thing about living/working in Dorset?

A: The people! My family are all around me and I also have an amazing network of friends and business contacts who I can call on at any time.

Q: If you were Prime Minister for the day what would be the first thing you do?

A: I would make every politician donate at least one week’s pay per year to a charity of their choice

Q: What’s your biggest frustration?

A: Never having enough time to do everything I would like to do.

Q:  Where’s your favourite holiday location?

A: Kenya. We combined a beach and safari holiday so we had the best of both worlds.

Q: Where do you see yourself in ten years’ time?

A: Hopefully retired but probably still volunteering for local good causes.

Q: What would you like to be remembered for?

A: Nothing special, just for being true to myself.