FORMER Conservative Shadow Home Secretary and ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ star Ann Widdecombe, revealed she once lived in Haslemere, when she visited The Royal School to give a talk, last Friday.

Students from the sixth form and years 10 and 11 heard she was born into a naval family and lived in the town for a time as a child, before moving to Singapore.

She gripped her audience with her insights into life in Parliament, her appearances on Strictly and even in pantomime, as well as her views on politics and democracy.

Questions from the floor ranged from whether there should be an age restriction for MPs, how to become one and how the House of Lords should be reformed, to her favourite dance moves on Strictly and her views on the US presidential election candidates.

School principal Anne Lynch said: “There was an electric atmosphere in the room as Ann related with great humour and much dynamism her experiences in the House of Commons and in pantomime and all those who heard her were truly uplifted by her words and by her message of perseverance and determination.”