Last Word

Matthew Bannister on Derek Mack, the rocket engineer who helped Britain enter the space ageJune Brown, the actor best known as Dot Cotton in EastendersDr Doris A. Derby, the American civil rights activist and photographer who took historic pictures of the struggle for equalityDave Sales, the Dorset fisherman who fought a 23 year campaign to protect the sea bed in Lyme Bay. Producer: Neil George Interviewed guest: Dion Mack Interviewed guest: Ken MacTaggart Interviewed guest: Bob Banks Interviewed guest: Hannah Collins Interviewed guest: Gill SalesArchive clips used: British Pathé, The Black Knight Rocket 1958; BBC One, The One Show - The Rocket Men 25/01/2019; BBC TV Archive, Black Arrow Project - 24 Hours 27/10/1971; BBC One, Eastenders, 1985-2020; BBC Radio 4, Desert Island Discs - June Brown 17/02/2017; British Movietone, V E Day in London 1945; Granada TV, Coronation Street, 19/08/1970; Library of Congress, Southern Oral History Program in North Carolina - Doris Derby Interview 2011; Storylines, Guardians of the Reef Project - Interview with David Sales 27/07/2017.

Matthew Bannister onThe first female US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who was a leading advocate of the NATO bombing campaign aimed at stopping ethnic cleansing in the Balkans.Peter Padfield, the naval historian who as a young man took part in the reconstruction of the voyage of the Mayflower from the UK to the USA.Christina Smith, the colourful entrepreneur known as “the queen of Covent Garden” for her property and business development in that area of London.Sheila Paine, who travelled to remote areas of the world to build up a renowned collection of textiles.Producer: Neil GeorgeInterviewed guest: Jim Naughtie Interviewed guest: Tom Lippman Interviewed guest: Fiona Padfield Interviewed guest: Andrew Lambert Interviewed guest: Dame Rosemary Anne Squire DBE Interviewed guest: Nick FieldingArchive used: One to One: Madeleine Albright, BBC Two, TX 12.9.2005; A Woman Called Smith, BBC Two, TX 30.4.1997

Matthew Bannister onBruce Page, the investigative journalist best known for leading the Sunday Times Insight team’s expose of the Thalidomide scandal.Dottie Frazier, the pioneering American scuba diver who kept a boa constrictor as a pet and rode a motorcycle until she was in her nineties.Josephine Veasey, the British mezzo-soprano acclaimed for her performances in works by Wagner and Berlioz.And Maynard Davies, who left school unable to read and write, went on to become a well-known bacon curer and chronicled his extraordinary life in a series of books.Producer: Neil George Interviewed guest: Magnus Linklater Interviewed guest: Peter Kellner Interviewed guest: Alec Peirce Interviewed guest: Karen Straus Interviewed guest: Una Barry Interviewed guest: Karen McCallArchive clips used: AP Archive, How West Germany Treats Thalidomide Children 10/12/1972; BBC One, The Editors: Press and Politicians 02/07/1978; Alec Peirce Scuba Channel, Dottie Frazier - A Diving Legend 09/01/2020; BBC Radio 4, A Musical Evening - Josephine Veasey 01/08/1985; YouTube - TheScottReaProject/Channel 4, Interview with Maynard Davies 1996; BBC Radio 4, The Food Programme - Interview with Maynard Davies 23/07/2000; AmericanRhetoric.com/YouTube Channel, Madeleine Albright - International Women's Day speech 08/03/2010.

John Wilson on Mary Coombs, the world's first female computer programmer in the commercial sector; Paul Farmer, a medical anthropologist who saved millions of lives in the world's poorest countries; Leslie Lonsdale-Cooper, who had a run-in with General Eisenhower and later went on to translate the comic book Tintin; and William Hurt, Oscar-winning actor.Producer: Neil GeorgeInterviewed guest: Fred Frank Land OBE Interviewed guest: Georgina Ferry Interviewed guest: Sheila Davis Interviewed guest: Sue Brown Interviewed guest: Michael GoldfarbArchive clips used: Putney High School YouTube Channel, Mary Coombs - 125th Anniversary Alumnae Portrait Exhibition 09/11/2018; LEO Computer Society / The Centre for Computing History, Sounds of the Leo Computer - LEO III in Operation 1964; Google / computingheritage YouTube Channel, Mary Coombs shares her story 25/09/2013; Partners in Health YouTube Channel, Paul Farmer - I believe in healthcare as a human right 21/05/2009; Decades TV Network, America Enters World War II 1941; British Movietone, Festival of Britain Opening 03/05/1951; BBC Cymru / Moulinsart, Tintin's Adventure with Frank Gardner 30/10/2011; Ellipse Programme/Nelvana Ltd, Tintin - The Crab With The Golden Claws (DVD) 1992; BBC Radio 4 Extra, The Adventures of Tintin By Hergé - Explorers On The Moon (Radio Drama) 06/02/1992; The Ladd Company, Body Heat (1981) film; HB Filmes / FilmDallas, Kiss of The Spiderwoman (1985) film; Marvel Studios / Vita-Ray Dutch Productions (III) / Studio Babelsberg, Captain America - Civil War (2016) film.

Matthew Bannister onShirley Hughes, the children’s author and illustrator whose books created a welcoming and recognisable picture of family life.Roger Graef, the documentary filmmaker who revealed the inner workings of the criminal justice system, the planning authorities and the treatment of children in care. Shane Warne, the Australian spin bowler hailed as one of the greatest cricketers of all time, but also known for his off the pitch party lifestyle. Producer: Neil George Interviewed guest: Tom Vulliamy Interviewed guest: Julia Eccleshare Interviewed guest: Michael Palin Interviewed guest: Katie Derham Interviewed guest: Simon WildeArchive clips used: Random House Children's Publishers UK, Shirley Hughes reading 'Dogger' 18/09/2013; BBC Radio 4, Desert Island Discs - Shirley Hughes 25/03/2001; BBC Radio 4, Woman's Hour - Shirley Hughes on 30 Years of Alfie 06/06/2011; Amnesty International, A Pleasure at Her Majesty's - documentary 1976; BAFTA, Tribute to Roger Graef 02/05/2014; Derrick Knight and Partners/ BFI, One of Them is Brett - documentary 1965; BBC Radio 4, Desert Island Discs - Robert Graef 26/10/2014; BBC One, Police - A Complaint of Rape 18/01/1982; BBC Radio 5Live, Remembering Shane Warne 04/03/2022; YouTube, 5 Magical Wickets of Shane Warne 05/08/2018; 60 Minutes Australia/ YouTube Channel, Shane Warne Interview 04/03/2022; Cricket.com.au/ YouTube Channel, From the Vault - Warne's Four Turns Adelaide on its Head 19/04/2020; BBC Radio 4, News - Shane Warne Sent Home from World Cup 11/02/2003; BBC Radio 4, Today - Tribute to Shane Warne 05/04/2022.

Matthew Bannister onSonny Ramadhin, the West Indian bowler who was one of the heroes of the side that scored a famous victory over England in 1950.Sister Catherine Wybourne, who was known as the 'digital nun' for her use of blogs and social media to communicate the messages of her order.Captain Raymond Savage, one of the last surviving prisoners of war who worked on the notorious Burma railway in the 1940s.Anna Karen, the actor best known for her appearances in the TV sitcom 'On The Buses' and the 'Carry On' films.Producer: Neil GeorgeInterviewed guest: Kenneth Ramchand Interviewed guest: Joshua Surtees Interviewed guest: Eric Southworth Interviewed guest: Caroline Aston Interviewed guest: Linda ReganArchive clips used: YouTube, Melbourne 1960 - The Tied Test; British Pathé, West Indies Cricketers Look 'Aussie' Class (1950); Joshua Surtees, Interview with Sonny Ramadhin; BBC SOUND ARCHIVE, ENGLAND V WEST INDIES 29/06/1950; Imperial War Museum, IWM 4823 Interview with Raymond Savage; British Pathé/ Reuters, The Fall of Singapore 1942; London Weekend Television, On The Buses TV Show 1971; Rabbit and Snail / Morris Bright MBE Interview with Anna Karen; Hammer Films/EMI, Holiday on The Buses (1973); The Rank Organization, Carry on Camping (1969); BBC One, Eastenders 20/01/1997; BBC Radio 4, Listening Corner - Sally's Secret by Shirley Hughes 04/04/1983.

Matthew Bannister on Jamal Edwards, the young music entrepreneur whose YouTube channel supported the careers of grime and rap stars like Dave, Skepta and Stormzy. P.J. O’Rourke, the conservative American satirist who applied his barbed wit to reporting from the world’s trouble spots. Romaine Hart, whose Screen on the Green cinema gave a platform to art house films and was described by Quentin Tarantino as “the coolest cinema in London”.Ronnie Campbell, the Scottish crofter and land rights campaigner who is thought to have been the last Highland drover, taking flocks of sheep on long distance journeys by foot.Producer: Neil GeorgeInterviewed guest: Crystal Mahey-Morgan Interviewed guest: Michael Goldfarb Interviewed guest: Nicola Hart Interviewed guest: Kenny MackintoshArchive clips used: BBC Radio 4: Bookclub, TX 5.2.2006; BBC Radio 4: The Report, TX 11.2.2016

Matthew Bannister onBeryl Vertue, the TV and film producer who brought us 'Men Behaving Badly' and 'Sherlock'. The actors Martin Clunes and Martin Freeman pay tribute.Flavio Carboni, the Italian wheeler dealer who was at the centre of many legal and political mysteries, including the death of the Vatican banker Roberto Calvi.Phil Harvey, the American businessman who set up a chain of sex shops to fund the provision of birth control to millions of people in the developing world.Lata Mangeshkar, who was seen as one of India’s most influential singers. She recorded songs in thirty six Indian languages.Producer: Neil George Interviewed guest: Simon Nye Interviewed guest: Martin Clunes Interviewed guest: Martin Freeman Interviewed guest: Philip Willan Interviewed guest: Simona Zecchi Interviewed guest: Christopher Purdy Interviewed guest: Anil SinananArchive clips used: BBC RADIO 3, Free Thinking 09/06/2021; Thames TV/Hartswood Films, Men Behaving Badly S01 E01 18/02/1992; BBC/Hartswood Films, Men Behaving Badly S06 E01 06/11/1997; BBC/Hartswood Films, Sherlock 2010; BBC RADIO 4, Desert Island Discs 20/01/2013; YouTube, Italian Dinner Party 2010; BBC ONE, PANORAMA: Called To Account 20/12/1982; BBC NEWS, Report on Roberto Calvi 06/10/2005; BBC NEWS, Bomb Explosion in Bologna 03/08/1980; DKT International, Phil Harvey: Pioneer of Social Marketing 28/09/2015; YouTube/Telly TalkIndia, Lata Mangeshkar Funeral 07/02/2022.

Matthew Bannister onBamber Gascoigne, the broadcaster and author best known as the long serving host of the TV quiz show 'University Challenge'.Norma Waterson, the revered singer who was part of the Waterson Carthy dynasty that played a leading role in the English folk revival. We have a personal tribute from her husband Martin Carthy and daughter Eliza Carthy.Claire Tomlinson, who broke down barriers to become one of the UK’s best polo players.Thich Nhat Hanh, the Vietnamese-born Buddhist monk known as the 'father of mindfulness'. Producer: Neil George Interviewed guest: Christina Gascoigne Interviewed guest: Wasfi Kani Interviewed guest: Martin Carthy Interviewed guest: Eliza Carthy Interviewed guest: Mark Tomlinson Interviewed guest: Brother Phap Huu Interviewed guest: Jeff WilsonArchive clips used: BBC Radio 4, Desert Island Discs 01/11/1987; Granada TV, University Challenge 01/09/1987; BBC Two, The Young Ones - Bambi 08/05/1984; Granada TV, The Christians e03 The Birth of Europe 16/08/1977; BBC Radio 3, Music Matters 31/03/2018; BBC Radio 4, The King of Games 21/08/1984; BBC SOUND ARCHIVE, Hurlingham vs Scotland 02/09/1980; YouTube / Is Secret, Namo Avalokiteshvara Plum Village Chanting 13/08/2014; BBC Two, Arena: Stories My Country Told Me 14/07/1996.

Julian Worricker on:The diplomat Sir Crispin Tickell, who advised four prime ministers, and influenced international policy on climate change...The writer and performer, Barry Cryer, whose work spanned sixty years and involved scripts for most of the comedy greats...Darlene Hard, 21 times a Grand Slam tennis champion, described as one of the greatest doubles players of her generation...And the Brazilian singer, Elza Soares, who was a campaigner for women's rights and against racism.Producer: Neil George Interviewed guest: Oliver Tickell Interviewed guest: Euan Nisbit Interviewed guest: Sally Jones Interviewed guest: Virginia Wade Interviewed guest: Robin DenslowArchive clips used: BBC Radio 4, Desert Island Discs - Sir Crispin Tickell 15/04/1990; BBC One, Breakfast News - Gulf War 17/01/1991; United Nations, UN General Assembly Climate Change 08/11/1989; AP, Rio Earth Summit 12/06/1992; BBC Four, Mark Lawson talks to Barry Cryer 02/04/2008; BBC Radio 4, I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue 24/08/2015; YouTube, Darlene Hard vs Maria Bueno US Nationals 1960; BBC Archive, All England Championships Ladies Final 04/07/1960; BBC Archive, All England Championships Ladies Final TX 06/07/1957; BBC Four, Brasil, Brasil: Samba to Bossa 24/11/2007.