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After working as an entertainer in the early 1990s, Bache branched out into working for City firms. Banks submit samples from prospective employees or management candidates. “No one aspect of the handwriting is important,” she says. “I’m looking at size, spacing, the shape, the pressure — which is why it’s nice to see the original, not a photocopy.”

Preparing a full report for a company can take a day. “It might be assessment of their own people, restructuring the company, or an applicant for a job,” Bache says. “There are a few things that I can’t tell and it’s usually the things people are surprised about. I can’t tell whether somebody’s right or left-handed. I really cannot tell for sure whether it’s a man or a woman. I can’t tell the age of someone.”

She adds: “Sometimes, the handwriting looks very vibrant, vital and young, and you find out it’s been written by a 75-year-old. Conversely, you think you’ve spotted somebody quite elderly, and they’re in their 30s.”

City firms aside, Bache has worked for CB Hillier Parker, the commercial property consultant, and Allders, the department stores operator.

In analysing City workers or businessmen, Bache is seeking a rounded portrait. “I’m obviously going to touch on their professional life and how I feel that they behave under those circumstances and the quality they bring to work. But also the more personal qualities; a side to them people wouldn’t normally see. With people who put all their energies into work, often it is the personal side which suffers. They can’t get close to people personally; don’t want to get emotionally involved.”

Handwriting often reveals surprises. Bache once unleashed her black art on amedia baron and concluded that he had a surprisingly welldeveloped sense of humour. “People said that Mrs Thatcher was a tyrant who never listened to advice, but I never saw that in her handwriting. I just saw someone who was determined and self-confident.”

She adds: “I think people can be shocked and surprised at how quickly I get to the nub of the personality without meeting them. Or the depth I can go into, or explain why they behave in such a way.”

In assessing candidates for jobs or promotion, graphology exposes some basic character traits. Bache says: “It brings out things like whether they can keep their mouth shut and how they get on with other people in the office. With somebody who’s intrinsically dishonest, there will be a very definite sign. I can tell if somebody’s not well and can tell the difference between mental and physical problems.”

Handwriting can supposedly reveal whether someone has a drink problem or is suffering from depression.

Psychologists tend to ridicule graphology, claiming it has no merit, but Bache insists her appraisals are consistently accurate. “I never feel I’ve got it completely wrong. I suppose one in ten people might pick me up on one particular aspect of their personality.”

Bache charges £200 an hour for parties and between £250 and £400 for written reports. Even when she’s not officially working, her services are always in demand.

“One very irritating thing about my job is that it never seems to end. I’ll be invited to a party as a guest, and quite often I’m used as a performing monkey.”

Emma Bache will be analysing the handwriting of leaders from the business world as part of an occasional series starting next week.

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