Lesley:
"In years gone by, the landed gentry provided occupation for their dear wives and daughters as " lady bountifuls" visiting the sick and poor in the parish with baskets of cake......."
That role is now exclusive to the royals, who are de facto "the patrons" of charities.
They are also "the heroes" who fight single-handed in Afghanistan flying choppers, and carry out rescue operations, again flying helicopters.
That said, I too could carry out a rescue operation if placed on the seat of a helicopter following a period of training, as could many other common people.
And most people could also pose in front of a camera at a charity and claim to be their "patron", or, for that matter, live in five to fifteen palaces and castles at the same time, while receiving State benefits galore.
Lady bountiful, you said?
