Last Word

Matthew Bannister on Dr Mildred Stahlman, the American paediatrician whose discovery helped to improve the outcomes of premature babies around the world.Ray Reardon, the former miner and police officer who was a World Snooker Champion six times. Val McIver, the Scottish local councillor who campaigned to set up the University of the Highlands and Islands.Eddie Spence, who decorated elaborate wedding cakes for members of the royal family for decades.Interviewee: Dr Meg Rush Interviewee: Martha Lott Interviewee: Ken Doherty Interviewee: Jen Mackenzie Interviewee: Dawn PenningtonProducer: Catherine PowellArchive used: Great Welsh Sporting Moments, BBC 2 Wales 17/12/2008; Ray Reardon: The Welsh Master, BBC 1 Wales 01/03/2022; Ray Reardon at 80, BBC 1 Wales,29/04/2012; Ray Reardon, BBC Two 19/04/1984; Highland University, Reporting Scotland, 19/04/1996; Insiders Inverness, BBC One Scotland, 18/10/1991; Radio Scotland News, 09/09/92; Installation of the first Chancellor of the University of the Highlands and Islands, music by students of the university and members of the Highland Youth Orchestra, via YouTube uploaded 27 /6/2012; The Royal Wedding, BBC Television, 20/11/1947; On the Eve of the Royal Wedding, BBC, Richard Dimbleby Thu 05 May 1960; Wedding of HRH The Prince of Wales & Lady Diana Spencer, BBC 29/07/1981; Silver Jubilee: A day of Celebration, BBC 2, 07/06/1977; Vic Minett BBC Radio CWR 23/02/2018

Matthew Bannister on Dr Ruth Westheimer who offered frank advice about sex on TV and radio.Mike Corfield, the conservator who developed new methods of preserving archaeological artefacts in the places where they were discovered.Shelley Duvall, the actor who worked closely with Robert Altman, played Wendy in The Shining and Michal Palin’s star-crossed lover in Time Bandits. Michael shares his memories. Veronica Smith, who, as a young woman, was forced to give up her baby for adoption. She later founded the “Movement for an Adoption Apology”.Producer: Ed Prendeville Archive used Barry Normal on Shelley Duvall. Film 80, BBC1, 29/09/1980; The Shining, Official trailer, 1980; Director Stanley Kubrik; Based on a novel by Stephen King; Warner Bros; Time Bandits, 1980; Original Trailer, Handmade Films; "Late Night" with David Letterman, 27/09/1984; Popeye, 1980, Trailer; Director: Robert Altman; Writers: Jules Feiffer (screenplay), E.C. Segar (based on characters by); Stars: Robin Williams, Shelley Duvall, Ray Walston; From 1981: Shelley Duvall talks working on 'The Shining', Interview with Gene Shalit on TODAY, 10/11/1981; BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour, 10/08/2022; BBC Radio London: Forced adoption, Peabody and Tim Arthur, 26/02/2014

Matthew Bannister onDr Richard Taylor, the retired hospital consultant who became the independent MP for Wyre Forest.Jack Rowell, the rugby coach who transformed the fortunes of Bath and took England to the World Cup semi-finals.The artist Claudia Williams, who painted large scale canvases including images of women and children who lost their homes in the Welsh village of Tryweryn. Christophe Deloire, the French journalist who became director general of the organisation Reporters Without Borders.Producer: Ed PrendevilleArchive used PILKINGTON CUP FINAL:BATH V LEICESTER, BBC2, 30/04/1989: England Vs NZ, BBC Sport, 1995; Hospital closure report, BBC News, 24/05/1995; Julian Assange, BBC Breakfast, 26.06.24; BBC Election coverage 2001; Fighting censorship with journalism: Christophe Deloire at TEDxLecce, Youtube, uploaded 03/06/2014; The World Tonight : The Russian journalist who protested on live TV, Radio 4, 06/10/2023; BBC News at One, BBC News, 17/03/2022; BBC Radio 5 live, 16/07/2016; Shipping Forecast, 27/11/2015; BBC Wales Today, 26/09/2013; Radio Wales Arts Show, 20/02/2010

Matthew Bannister onFrank Duckworth, the statistician whose name will forever be associated with the Duckworth-Lewis method of calculating scores for rain affected cricket matches. Leah Levin, who campaigned to overturn miscarriages of justice and gain reparations for victims of torture. Professor Mary-Lou Pardue, the eminent biologist who fought against sexism at the American University, M.I.T.Joss Naylor, the fell runner who broke the Lake District 24-hour record three times and ran the fastest known times on the Three Peaks and the Pennine Way.Interviewee: Rob Eastaway Interviewee: Hans Thoolen Interviewee: Professor Susan Gerbi Interviewee: Professor Nancy Hopkins Interviewee: David Powell-ThompsonProducer: Gareth Nelson-DaviesArchive used:Frank Duckworth interview, Broadcasting House, BBC Radio 4, 21/06/2021; England Test Match Special, West Indies v England, BBC ONE, 16/03/1968; England Cricket Sport Report, BBC Sport, 30/01/2005; Leah Levin keynote speech, Kingston University graduation ceremony, 2019; Leah Levin interview, London Plus News, BBC ONE South East, 11/10/1984; Leah Levin , BBC Breakfast Time, BBC ONE, 04/10/1985; A Conversation with Mary Lou Pardue, MIT Department of Biology, YouTube Upload, 24/08/2020; Joss Naylor profile, Countryfile, BBC ONE 30/07/2018; Joss Naylor interview, Farming Today, BBC Radio 4, 19/06/2021; Joss Naylor interview, Nationwide, BBC ONE, 1973; Joss Naylor interview Cherry Pit Spitting , BBC News, 02/07/1981;

Kirsty Lang on the Judge and cricketer Sir Oliver Popplewell. His godson Stephen Fry pays tribute.The computer pioneer and transgender advocate Lynn Conway.The music mogul and friend to the Fab Four Tony Bramwell. One of France’s best loved singer song-writers Francoise Hardy.Interviewee: Stephen Fry Interviewee: Charles Rogers Interviewee: Roag Best Interviewee: Laura BartonProducer: Catherine PowellArchive used: Get Carman: The Trials of George Carman QC BBC 2 5th April 2002; The Today Programme BBC 15th May 1985; Michigan Engineering, University of Michigan 8 Oct 2014 uploaded from Youtube; Trans Activism Oral History Project, Chair in Transgender Studies, University of Victoria, Canada Feb 4th 2020; Radio Newsreel BBC World Service 31st October 1963; Dermot O’Leary show BBC Radio 2 17th August 2013; Sunny South Kensington – Donovan Epic 22nd October 1966; Songbird – Eva Cassidy Didgeridoo Records/ Hot Record 1998; My Generation – The Who Bruinswick Records/ Decca (US) 1965/6; Falling for Francoise, Producer: Alan Hall A Falling Tree Production for BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 4 2011.

Matthew Bannister on Nora Cortiñas, a founding member of Argentina’s “Mothers of the Disappeared” campaign group. Her son Gustavo was 24 when he was arrested by the country’s right-wing dictatorship. He was never seen again. Belinda Bellville, the fashion designer who dressed every female member of the royal family apart from Queen Elizabeth. Her business partner David Sassoon shares his memories.The poet John Burnside whose acclaimed work reflected his troubled childhood in Cowdenbeath and Corby.Roger Corman, the American film director and producer known for his prolific output of low budget pictures.Producer: Ed PrendevilleArchive used: Exhibition of Belinda Bellville dresses at Holkham Hall, BBC Norfolk, 17/04/2013; Princess Goes To Washington (1965). Pathe News, 21/11/1965; Wild Music, Radio 4, 29/12/2019; Belief: John Burnside, BBC Radio 3; 04/04/2012; The Little Shop Of Horrors (1960) Official Trailer; Masque Of The Red Death (1964) Trailer; Attack of the Crab Monsters Official Trailer; Viking Women and the Sea Serpent (1957) Trailer; It Conquered the World (1956) Theatrical Trailer; Horror Café, BBC 2, 15/09/1990; The Film Programme, BBC Radio 4, 30/05/2008;

Matthew Bannister onRichard M Sherman who teamed up with his brother Robert to write some of Disney’s best loved songs.Professor Wendy James CBE, the anthropologist who studied the Uduk tribes of Sudan.June Mendoza OBE, the portrait painter whose subjects included members of the Royal Family, Prime Ministers and celebrities.Morgan Spurlock, the film maker best known for his Oscar nominated documentary about the fast food industry “Supersize Me”.Interviewee: Brian Sibley Interviewee: Dr Douglas Johnson Interviewee: Anna Smith Interviewee: Kim MackrellProducer: Gareth Nelson-DaviesArchive used: Richard Sherman, Outlook, BBC Radio 4, 29 Aug 2016; Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Trailer, Dir: Ken Hughes, MGM, 1968; Mary Poppins trailer, Director: Robert Stevenson, Disney, 1964; Julie Andrews, Feed The Birds, Composer Sherman; Richard Sherman, The Film Programme, BBC Radio 4, 30 May 2008; Richard Sherman, Front Row, BBC Radio 4, 26 Oct 2007; Richard Sherman, Soul Music, BBC Radio 4, 03 May 2016; It's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow, Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, Walt Disney; Richard Sherman interview, Empire Magazine, YouTube, uploaded 12 Aug 2013; Interview with Professor Wendy James, Apollo, University of Cambridge Repository, Dir: Alan Macfarlane, Edit: Sarah Harrison, dspace.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/223956, 15 May 2009; Super Size Me, 2004, Writer/Director: Morgan Spurlock, Samuel Goldwyn Film, You Tube, uploaded 17 May 2024; Super Size Me, Official Movie Trailer, Samuel Goldwyn Films, 2004; Super Size Me 2, Official Trailer, Samuel Goldwyn Films, 2019; Morgan Spurlock interview, ABC News, YouTube uploaded, 19 Sept 2019; June Mendoza, Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4, 08 Sept 1979; June Mendoza, Midweek, BBC Radio 4, 25 May 1988;

Matthew Bannister onThe Irish rugby star and businessman Sir Tony O’Reilly. He made billions but ended up bankrupt.The hardline President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi.Penny Simkin, who championed the role of birth doulas to help mothers during and after labour.Professor Alasdair Geddes, the infectious diseases expert who diagnosed the world’s last ever case of smallpox – in Birmingham.Producer: Ed PrendevilleArchive used: Penny Simkin, YouTube upload, PSfromPenny, 27/10/2009; Penny Simkin, YouTube upload, PSfromPenny, 22/03/2011; Today Programme, Radio 4, BBC, 20/05/2024; Newshour, BBC World Service, 20/05/2024; News report by Philip Hayton, Sound Archive, BBC Radio 4, 11/02/1979; Ebrahim Raisi interviewed by Lesley Stahl, CBS Interactive Inc., YouTube upload, 60 Minutes, 19/05/2024; BBC profile on Tony O’Reilly, 24/01/1975; Conversation Piece, Radio 4, 02/12/1985; People in profile, Radio Ulster, 06/09/1980; The Last Case of Smallpox in the UK, BBC News, 31/08/2016

Matthew Bannister onDame Shirley Conran, the journalist and author best known for her books “Superwoman” and “Lace”.Baroness Doreen Massey, the educator and former director of the Family Planning AssociationBeverly LaHaye the founder of Concerned Women of America who campaigned to stop the Equal Rights Amendment.Steve Albini, the controversial musician who worked many influential albums including Nirvava’s “In Utero”.Producer: Ed PrendevilleArchive used: National Women’s Coalition for Life, National Cable Satellite Corporation, C-Span, 03/04/1992; Former President Trump Speaks at Concerned Women for America Summit, National Cable Satellite Corporation, C-Span, 15/09/2023; Beverly LaHaye, Concernedwomen.org, 23/02/2017; President Reagan's Remarks at Convention of Concerned Women for America, Reagan Library, YouTube upload, 28/11/2017; The PTL Club, The PTL Club – Heritage USA, YouTube upload, 12/08/2022; Woman's Hour, 07/11/2014; Woman's Hour, 02/08/2012; Graham Norton, BBC Radio 2, 14/07/2012; The Stephen McCauley Show, BBC Radio Ulster, 29/08/2022; House of Lords, parliament.tv, 24/04/2019; Baroness Massey Stories of Democracy, House of Lords, YouTube upload, 22/11/2012

Matthew Bannister on Anne Dagg, the Canadian biologist known as The Woman Who Loves Giraffes for her lifelong study of the animals.Professor Ross Anderson, the computer scientist who was a leading expert on data protection and online security.Reverend Cecil Murray, the pastor of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles who played a pivotal role during the riots of 1992.Kris Hellenga, who was diagnosed with breast cancer aged 23 and set up the charity Coppafeel to encourage other young women to check their breasts.Producer: Ed PrendevilleArchive used: Archive of Anne Dagg, The Woman who loves Giraffes, Pursuing Giraffe Adventures Inc, 2018; Newsnight, BBC Two, 01/07/1992; Newsnight, BBC Two, 11/02/2010; Ross Anderson Interviewed by Elisabetta Mori, Archives of IT, YouTube Upload, 20/03/2024; Digitalize in Stockholm ’22, DigitalFuturesHub, YouTube Upload, 28/10/22; USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture, YouTube Upload 22/02/2021; BBC Radio Cornwall, 12/10/2021;