Easter has come and chocolate has been savoured. The weather is more clement, the clocks have been altered and the days are longer. My garden is full of flowers and my allotment is less like a farmer’s field. Is this enough to know that spring is sprung?

At Hunstrete House last week we were delivering a course to a group of extremely talented academics considering the role of being Non-Executive Directors on a Board. I was standing gazing out of the window at a “host of golden daffodils” when suddenly a herd of deer came frisking into view. Was this it? Could I believe that spring had arrived?

At that moment Pete appeared looking flushed and happy. “Hi, Pete, where have you been? We’ve been admiring the deer.”

“I was so hot I went to my room and took my thermal underwear off”

At last I knew spring had sprung.