When The Tablet published its list of the 100 most influential Catholics two years ago, during its 175th anniversary year, Dame Helen Ghosh told me that her children devoured it, fas­cinated by the prominent public figures whose bedrock is their faith. Ghosh herself was at number four, a reflection of her role as Director-General of the National Trust. If The Tablet were to publish the list today, Ghosh might be at number one, given her achievements in the Civil Service, the charity sector and now at the top in education.