Last Word

Matthew Bannister on The Jamaican-born poet Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze MBE, who was known for her compelling performances. We have a tribute from Linton Kwesi Johnson.Sir Nicholas Goodison, chairman of the stock exchange at the time of the Big Bang in the 1980s and also a noted expert on antique clocks.Shaykh Abdalqadir as-Sufi, the influential Muslim teacher who was born Ian Dallas, worked as an actor and script writer in the 1960s and converted to Islam after a visit to the holy city of Fez in Morocco. Joyce Shrubbs, who joined the Royal Observer Corps during World War II and rose to become its highest ranking woman officer.Producer: Laura NorthedgeInterviewed guest: Justin Urquhart Stewart Interviewed guest: Jonathan Betts Interviewed guest: Linton Kwesi Johnson Interviewed guest: Dona Croll Interviewed guest: Shaykh Paul Salahuddin Armstrong Interviewed guest: Yasin Dutton Interviewed guest: Michael Marks Interviewed guest: Edwina HoldenArchive clips used: Pathe News, London stock exchange during Second World War; Cineriz, Federico Fellini's 8 1/2; Cyclops TV, documentary Sentinels of Britain.

Julian Worricker on:The opera director, Sir Graham Vick, who challenged people's perceptions by discovering new performers and new audiences.Carmel Budiardjo, the human rights campaigner whose work was influenced by time spent in jail in Indonesia.The award-winning radio documentary maker, Piers Plowright, who set out to shine a light on the everyday lives of ordinary people.And Dusty Hill....the bearded bass player from Texas, who enjoyed worldwide success as part of ZZ Top.Producer: Laura NorthedgeInterviewed guest: Simon Halsey Interviewed guest: Nicholas Payne Interviewed guest: Jonathan Head Interviewed guest: Barbara Patilla Interviewed guest: Simon Elmes Interviewed guest: Sam Dunn

Matthew Bannister onJackie Mason, the comedian and former rabbi whose observations of Jewish life took him from the Borscht Belt to Broadway. John Woodcock, the veteran cricket writer who reported on some of the greatest matches of the twentieth century.Dinah Murray, a tireless campaigner for the rights of autistic people.Billy Lacey, thought to be the last of the Norfolk marshmen who used traditional methods to clear dykes and cut reeds. Producer: Neil GeorgeInterviewed guest: Michael Goldfarb Interviewed guest: Jonathan Agnew Interviewed guest: Fergus Murray Interviewed guest: Dr Rebecca Wood Interviewed guest: Sue GoodchildArchive clips used: 20th CENTURY FOX, Simpsons episode 8F05, 1991; WARNER, The World According To Me, 1987; YouTube, A Bi Geznut The Genius Which is Jackie Mason; Angel/EMI, Look Who's Laughing - Live at the London Palladium, 1997; SPORTS BOOK AWARDS, John Woodcock, 2018; WISEArchive, Bill Lacey interview, 2021.

Matthew Bannister onGillian Sheen, the first and only British person to win an Olympic Gold Medal for fencing.Professor William 'Twink' Allen, the equine fertility expert whose request for permission to clone a horse was turned down by regulators.Squadron Leader Lawrence 'Benny' Goodman, the bomber pilot who flew highly dangerous missions with the 617 squadron during the second world war.Alan Lewis, the publisher and editor who presided over some of the most successful music magazines of the late twentieth century, including 'Sounds', 'NME' and 'Kerrang!'.Producer: Neil GeorgeInterviewed guest: Bruce Donaldson Interviewed guest: Malcolm Fare Interviewed guest: Richard Greenwood Interviewed guest: Dr. Robert Owen Interviewed guest: James BrownArchive clips used: BRITISH FENCING interview, 2012; PATHE, Olympian wins at foil competition, 1957; CSA The Melbourne Rendezvous film, 1956; Global Entertainment Test Tube Foals, 2016; MYFOOTAGE.COM Bombers Sink Nazi Battleship, 1944; PATHE RAF's New 10 Ton Bomb, 1945; EMAP Kerrang! UK advert, 2007.

Matthew Bannister on Jehan Sadat, the wife of president Anwar Sadat of Egypt, who campaigned for women’s rights, supported the disabled and disadvantaged people and forged an academic career.Michael Horovitz, the anarchic poet who staged chaotic 'happenings' and supported new talent.Richard Ernst, the Swiss chemist who won the Nobel prize for his work on nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.Dilip Kumar, the Bollywood actor known as 'the king of tragedy'.Producer: Neil GeorgeInterviewed guest: Noah Bakr Interviewed guest: Shibley Telhami Interviewed guest: Adam Horovitz Interviewed guest: John Hegley Interviewed guest: Matthias Ernst Interviewed guest: Professor Kurt Wüthrich Interviewed guest: Anil SinananArchive clips used: ABC NEWS, 06/10/1980; SPINE TV, 21/12/2011; Optic Nerve Ltd 2011-2021; Martin Packard, You Tube 2010; Devdas film, 1955; Kohinoor film, 1960; Mughal-E-Azam film, 1960.

Matthew Bannister onDonald Rumsfeld, the US Secretary of Defense who challenged the military bureaucracy, advocated the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and was blamed for many of the failings of that operation.Menelik Shabazz, the pioneering film director who supported the careers of many other black film makers.Elizabeth French, the archaeologist who was a leading expert on the pottery of the ancient Greek city of Mycenae.Producer: Neil GeorgeInterviewed guest: Justin Webb Interviewed guest: Andrew Cockburn Interviewed guest: Joy Francis Interviewed guest: David Somerset Interviewed guest: John BennetArchive clips used: C-SPAN 19/03/2003; CNN 02/12/2002; AP 13/05/2004; Step Forward Youth 1977 by Menelik Shabazz; Burning an Illusion 1981 by Menelik Shabazz; Blood Ah Go Run 1981 by Menelik Shabazz; Autumn Breeze Movies, Mycenaean War and Peace 24/05/2010; Introduction to Mycenaeans and Mycenaean Culture, History with Cy 21/06/2019; History Victorum, The Citadel of Mycenae 04/06/2020.

Matthew Bannister on The controversial American businessman John McAfee who made his first fortune selling anti-virus software, retreated into a compound in Belize where he was suspected of links with organised crime, campaigned to win the Presidential nomination for the Libertarian party and was found hanged in a Spanish prison cell after facing extradition on fraud and tax evasion charges. General Trần Thiện Khiêm, a key player in the 'snake pit' of coup and counter coup that destabilised the government of South Vietnam during the war of the 1960s.Karla Burns, the Broadway and West End singer who became the first black person to win an Olivier Award. Horace 'Lyle' Hutley, thought to be the last surviving prisoner of war who worked on the infamous bridge over the River Kwai.Producer: Neil GeorgeInterviewed guest: Michael Carlson Interviewed guest: Nanette Burstein Interviewed guest: Professor Lien-Hang T. Nguyen Interviewed guest: Bill Ripper Interviewed guest: Allan MallinsonArchive clips used: CNBC News, 24/06/2021; Soft Focus with Jena Friedman, Adult Swim 2019; John McAfee on Larry King, Ora TV 11/03/2016; President Johnson Speaks on the Vietnam Crisis, British Pathe 1964; The Fall of Saigon, CBC News 1975; One On One, PBS 02/01/2019; It’s All Good With Sierra, Wichita Public TV 14/06/2012; The Battle of Dunkirk, British Pathe 1940; The Fall of Singapore, British Pathe/Gaumont/Reuters 1942; Far East Prisoners of War Return Home, British Movietone 11/10/1945.

Pictured: President Kenneth KaundaMatthew Bannister onThe Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda who fought for independence then ruled his country for nearly thirty years, but was voted out of office in the first multi-party elections of 1991. Janet Malcolm, the American writer whose works questioned the ethics of journalists and biographers, including herself. Penny Kemp, who brought passion and professionalism to the campaigns of the Green Party. Bob Swash, the theatre producer whose hits included Evita and Blood Brothers.Producer: Neil GeorgeInterviewed guest: Maureen Nkandu Interviewed guest: Katie Roife Interviewed guest: Darren Johnson Interviewed guest: Caroline Lucas Interviewed guest: Michael Coveney Interviewed guest: Willy RussellArchive clips used: Zambian Independence Celebrations, BBC Archives, October 1964; Reading Chekhov, Radio 3 08/07/2004; A Brunch Conversation with Janet Malcolm, Kelly Writers’ House 19/03/2013; Today, Radio 4 13/09/2002; Greens On The Record, BBC One 24/09/1989; The World This Weekend, Radio 4 16/04/2006; Taking Issue, BBC Radio Scotland 30/01/1986.

Pictured: Edward de BonoMatthew Bannister onEdward De Bono, the psychologist who advocated lateral thinking – and sold the concept to companies around the world.Paul Van Doren, the American businessman whose Vans sneakers were adopted by skateboarders, making him a multi-millionaire.Alastair Hanton OBE, who set up the National Girobank and developed direct debits to allow greater access to banking before becoming a campaigner for ethical investing and greener transport.Violetta Elvin, the Russian ballerina who made her name as a rival to Dame Margot Fonteyn at the Royal Ballet.Producer: Neil GeorgeInterviewed guest: Sarah Tucker Interviewed guest: Steve Van Doren Interviewed guest: Nicholas Smith Interviewed guest: Angus Hanton Interviewed guest: Raffaele Lauro Interviewed guest: Ronald Hynd Translator: Martin EspositoArchive clips used: Logical and Lateral, Radio 4 29/12/1976; Today, Radio 4 29/04/1976; Fast Times at Ridgemont High, directed by Amy Heckerling, Universal Pictures 1982; LA Olympics Opening Ceremony, ABC News 1984; Alastair Hanton Oral History, The Hanton Family 2021.

Matthew Bannister on Lee Evans, the world-record-breaking American sprinter who took part in black power protests at the 1968 Mexico Olympics.Yuan Longping, the plant scientist who developed hybrid varieties of rice that increased yields dramatically and so saved millions from hunger.Bill McCall, the General Secretary of the Institution of Professional Civil Servants who challenged Margaret Thatcher over union recognition at GCHQ.Alix Dobkin, the folk singer and lesbian activist who performed to women-only audiences. Producer: Neil GeorgeInterviewed guest: Tommie Smith Interviewed guest: Professor Douglas Hartmann Interviewed guest: Keith Bradsher Interviewed guest: Charles Harvey Interviewed guest: Liza CowanArchive clips used: Athletics_400 Metres Final: BBC One, TX 18.10.1968; A Classless Civil Service: Radio 3, TX 10.7.1968; BBC News: BBC One, TX 28.2.1984