Nemone Lethbridge, a pioneering barrister and writer, recounts her trailblazing journey in the male-dominated legal profession since 1956. She shares stories of early struggles, including having to use public facilities, and her unusual representation of the Kray twins. At 92, she passionately advocates for justice, discussing complex cases while reflecting on personal trauma and societal expectations. Her experiences also intertwine with her creative pursuits, including writing in Greece with her husband, a former convict, emphasizing resilience and the pursuit of justice.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Adventurous Honeymoon
Nemone Lethbridge's parents had an adventurous honeymoon, trekking to Tibet after marrying in Shimla.
The six-week journey reflected their love for the Himalayas and mountaineering.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Father's Military Service and Passing
Nemone Lethbridge's father served in both World Wars and the Third Afghan War.
Despite surviving these conflicts, he passed away due to smoking-related illness.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Wartime Childhood
During WWII, Nemone and her brother collected shrapnel, even finding an unexploded incendiary bomb.
Their mother, unfazed by the dangers of war, encouraged their adventurous spirit.
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The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám is a celebrated collection of quatrains that delve into profound subjects such as love, mortality, and the existence of God. Translated by Edward FitzGerald, the poem has become a cornerstone of Victorian literature, offering a blend of philosophical skepticism and sensual celebration. Despite its origins in Persian, FitzGerald's translation has made it a beloved work in the English-speaking world.
Nemone Lethbridge is a barrister who was called to the bar in 1956. One of very few female barristers working at the time, she encountered misogyny and was one of the trailblazers for women working in the legal profession who followed behind her.
At her first Chambers, she wasn’t allowed to share a toilet with her male colleagues and had to use the facilities in a nearby café. It was hard for her to find work and for some time she represented the Kray twins.
After her marriage to a writer, and former convicted criminal was revealed, she was forced to leave the legal profession and they moved to Greece for a number of years where both of them had careers as writers having their work filmed for the BBC.
Nemone returned to the Bar in 1981 and continues to do pro bono work at 92 years old.
She lives in London.
DISC ONE: Go Down, Moses - Paul Robeson
DISC TWO: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - The Choir of King’s College Cambridge
DISC THREE: Scarborough Fair – Simon & Garfunkel
DISC FOUR: I Wanna Go Back to Dixie - Tom Lehrer
DISC FIVE: Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492 / Act 3: "Sull’aria ... Che soave zeffiretto"
Performed by Edith Mathis (soprano), Gundula Janowitz (soprano), Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin and conducted by Karl Böhm
DISC SIX: Strose to Stroma sou – Mikis Theodorakis
DISC SEVEN: September Song - Gracie Fields
DISC EIGHT: Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147: Chorale. Jesus bleibet meine Freude (Arr. for Piano) (Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring) Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach and performed by Lang Lang
BOOK CHOICE: The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
LUXURY ITEM: A doll
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492 / Act 3: "Sull’aria ... Che soave zeffiretto". Performed by Edith Mathis (soprano), Gundula Janowitz (soprano), Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin and conducted by Karl Böhm
Desert Island Discs 