Last Word

Photo: Hugh MasekelaMatthew Bannister onHugh Masekela the South African jazz trumpeter and anti apartheid activist.Ursula K. Le Guin whose science fiction and fantasy books sold millions of copies.Mary Lee Berners-Lee, the computer pioneer and mother of the world wide web creator Sir Tim Berners-Lee.John Barton the director and writer who taught a generation of actors how to speak Shakespearian verse.Mark E. Smith, the controversial front man of the post punk band The Fall.

Matthew Bannister onSurgeon Captain Rick Jolly, the navy doctor who set up a makeshift field hospital during the Falklands War to treat both British and Argentine casualties.Dolores O'Riordan, lead singer of the Irish band the Cranberries who sold forty million albums.Cyrille Regis, the West Brom and England striker who experienced racism from fans in the 1980s.Jenny Joseph who wrote Britain's best loved post war poem "Warning"Peter Wyngarde the actor who played the TV detective Jason King and partly inspired the Austin Powers films.

Photo: John W. YoungMatthew Bannister onJohn W. Young the American astronaut who went into in space six times, including landing on the moon and commanding the first space shuttle flight. Peter Preston the long serving editor of the Guardian who re-designed and modernised the paper.Ray Thomas the flautist and singer who was a founding member of the Moody Blues.Sir Brian Neill, the barrister and judge who defended the Sunday Times in the Thalidomide court case.Heather Stewart, the pilot who risked her life to fly cargo and passengers through war zones in Africa.

Photo: Maureen BakerMatthew Bannister onMaureen Baker who designed clothes for Princess Anne, including her Tudor inspired wedding dress.Richard Cousins - the Chief Executive who transformed the fortunes of the world's biggest catering company Compass Group.Lady Astor - the model who was caught up in the Profumo Affair.Meic Povey - the Welsh playwright who also created award winning films and TV dramas.Rick Hall who produced classic recordings by soul stars like Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett and Candi Staton in the town of Muscle Shoals Alabama.

Photo: Tom PaleyJulian Worricker on:The businessman Sir Peter Burt, who was in charge of Bank of Scotland when it merged with the Halifax, and was later chairman of ITVThe woman credited with groundbreaking work as an architectural archivist, Jill LeverThe horticulturalist and rose grower, John Mattock, who was chairman of the Chelsea Flower Show for twelve yearsThe film and TV director, Peter Duffell, whose work included the mini-series The Far PavilionsAmerican folk singer and musician, Tom Paley.

Photo: Professor Heinz WolffMatthew Bannister onProfessor Heinz Wolff, the bioengineer who was known to millions of TV viewers as the presenter of "The Great Egg Race".Aline, Countess of Romanones, the model and socialite who wrote best selling books based on her experiences of spying on the Nazis during the war.Tony Whitten, the passionate conservationist who had eleven species named after him.Fritz Lustig who worked as a wartime secret listener, eavesdropping on the conversations of German prisoners of war.And the singer Keely Smith who, with her husband Louis Prima, became one of the most successful Las Vegas acts of the 1950s.

(Photo: Keith Chegwin)Matthew Bannister onThe disgraced publicist Max Clifford who was known as the king of the kiss and tell story, made up many tabloid headlines and was convicted of eight charges of indecent assault against teenage girls.The adventurer Norman Baker who sailed with Thor Heyerdahl from Morocco to Barbados on a papyrus raft called Ra II.The businessman Tony Garrett who was chairman of Imperial Tobacco and a pioneer of sponsorship deals in sport and the arts.The art historian Virginia Surtees who championed the pre-Raphaelite painters. And Keith Chegwin, much loved children's TV presenter and entertainer.

(Photo: Christine Keeler)Matthew Bannister on King Michael of Romania who ruled his country during the second world war and was forced to abdicate by the Soviet Union. . Bollywood actor Shashi Kapoor who starred in more than a hundred Hindi films as well as English language titles like Shakespeare Wallah and Heat and Dust.Christine Keeler, the model who was at the centre of the Profumo Affair in the 1960s.Jenny MacGregor who rescued thousands of ponies and horses from neglectful or abusive owners.And Johnny Hallyday, France's best known rock star.

(Photo: Russian baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky) Matthew Bannister onThe Russian baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky, known for playing leading operatic roles - and for his silver hair and matinee idol looks.Unity Spencer who overcame a dysfunctional upbringing as the daughter of the painter Stanley Spencer to be recognised as an accomplished artist in her own right. Lewis Golden, the war veteran who set up the successful Everest Double Glazing business.John Butler - piano tuner to stars like Oscar Peterson, Sammy Davis Junior and Frank Sinatra.And Joy Lofthouse, one of the last surviving female pilots who delivered Spitfires to their airbases during the war.

Matthew Bannister onLord Imbert, the Commissioner who tried to change the culture of the Metropolitan Police. He invited TV cameras to observe his officers at work, leading to a controversial film of them subjecting a rape victim to aggressive questioning.Pat Hutchins, the children's author and illustrator who created the book "Rosie's Walk" and presented the TV series "Rosie and Jim".Rodney Bewes, the actor best known for playing Bob in the Likely Lads.Charles Manson, one of the most notorious murderers of the 20th century. And David Cassidy, the singer and actor who was a heartthrob for millions of teenage girls in the 1970s.