Last Word

Matthew Bannister onPeter Gibson the master glazier who devoted his life to the care of the stained glass windows in York Minster.AA Gill, who overcame alcoholism and dyslexia to become one of the UK's best known critics.Coral Atkins who gave up a career as an actress to run homes for disadvantaged children.William Chaloner, an authority on fossil plants who used pollen from the past to reconstruct ancient environments.Ian McCaskill, the BBC weather man much imitated by impressionists.

Matthew Bannister on John Glenn, the astronaut who was the first American to orbit the earth and later the oldest man ever to be sent into space.The actor Peter Vaughan, best known for his roles in Porridge, Our Friends In the North and latterly Game of Thrones.Jayalalithaa Jayaram, the autocratic chief minister of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu who was imprisoned for corruption, but re-elected afterwards. And Greg Lake - the guitarist and singer who was part of the supergroup Emerson, Lake and Palmer and recorded a classic Christmas single. Producer: Dianne McGregor.

Matthew Bannister onAndrew Sachs, the actor who was so much more than Manuel in Fawlty Towers. We hear about his acclaimed radio career.Also the Cuban leader Fidel Castro - brutal dictator or benevolent champion of his people?The jazz and blues singer Mose Allison, whose songs were covered by the Who, the Clash, Bonnie Raitt and Van Morrison.And The Honourable Margaret Rhodes, the Queen's cousin, who became a celebrity after writing her memoirs of life in the royal household. Producer: Neil George.

Kate Silverton on:Martin Aitchison who worked with Barnes Wallis on the bouncing bomb but made his name illustrating the Peter and Jane ladybird books.Sir Mota Singh, the Kenyan born Barrister who became Britain's first ethnic minority judge making headlines worldwide as the first judge in 300 years not to wear the horse hair wigWilliam Trevor - one of Ireland's greatest writers - a novelist, playwright and short story writer, his work was compared with ChekhovRuth Gruber, journalist, author, humanitarian and spy. She documented Stalin's gulags, life in Nazi Germany and the plight of Jewish refugeesand David Mancuso, dance music legend and music host who founded the Loft in New York.Producer: Neil George.

Matthew Bannister onRobert Vaughn - the actor who made his name as Napoleon Solo in "The Man From Uncle" TV series and also appeared in films like "The Magnificent Seven", "Bullitt" and "The Towering Inferno".Ewen Whitaker, the self taught astronomer who became an expert on the geography of the moon and helped direct Apollo 12 to its landing site. Carolyn Hardy, who turned the National Gardens Scheme into a stand alone charity and was vice chairman of the Royal Horticultural Society.Sir Sigmund Sternberg, the businessman who founded the Three Faiths Forum to encourage dialogue between Jews, Muslims and Christians.Claude "Curly" Putman - the country singer who wrote "D.I.V.O.R.C.E" and "The Green Green Grass of Home". Producer: Neil George.

Matthew Bannister onThe singer, songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen. He was accused of depressing a generation, but many found his songs inspiring.Lieutenant Colonel Bob Montgomery - the explosives expert who played a leading role in a daring Commando raid on the port of Saint Nazaire during the second world war.Janet Reno - the US Attorney General General under President Bill Clinton - she dealt with many controversial issues, including the Whitewater and Monica Lewinsky scandals. Sir Jimmy Young. For thirty years his mixture of news and music entertained and informed millions on Radio 2. Producer: Neil George.

Matthew Bannister onAmerican political activist Tom Hayden. He once said that people only knew four words about him: "Sixties, Radical, Jane and Fonda". He led anti Vietnam war protests and was married to the Hollywood star. Valerie Hunter Gordon who invented the disposable nappy. Her prototypes were made from old wartime parachutes. Literary agent Carole Blake who wrote a best selling guide for aspiring novelists.And Anne Pashley, who won a silver medal at the 1956 Olympics, then became a leading opera singer.

Matthew Bannister on Raine Countess Spencer. The daughter of Barbara Cartland and step mother of Princess Diana who nicknamed her "Acid Raine".Jimmy Perry who drew on his own life to co-write classic TV comedies including Dad's Army and Hi De Hi.General Stylianos Pattakos, a leading figure in the military junta that took power in Greece in 1967. The theatre director Howard Davies, acclaimed for his productions of twentieth century American classics and for the premiere of Les Liaisons Dangereuses.And Bobby Vee - the sixties pop idol whose many chart hits included Rubber Ball and Take Good Care of My Baby. Producer: Neil George.

Matthew Bannister onJean Alexander - the actress best known for playing Hilda Ogden in Coronation Street.Trinh Thi Ngo. Nicknamed Hanoi Hannah, she broadcast propaganda to American GIs during the Vietnam war.Ian Mercer the naturalist who became the first Dartmoor National Park officer and the first Chief Executive of the Countryside Council for Wales.Joseph Harmatz, part of a group of Jewish vigilantes who set out to murder millions of Germans just after the second world war.And Joan Marie Johnson - one of the three women singers in the Dixie Cups who scored a major hit with The Chapel of Love.Producer: Neil George.

Matthew Bannister onThe world's longest reigning monarch - King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand.The Nobel prize winning playwright and satirist Dario Fo. Griff Rhys Jones pays tribute.The pioneering racing driver Jean Bloxam She took on the men - and often beat them.Andrew Vicari, the painter from Port Talbot in Wales who made millions through commissions from the Saudi Royal family.And the musician Don Buchla who invented the first modern synthesiser in 1963.Producer: Neil GeorgeInterviewed guest: Paul Handley Interviewed guest: Griff Rhys Jones Interviewed guest: Dan Rebellato Interviewed guest: Nick Tassoni Interviewed guest: Michael Scott Interviewed guest: Andrew Vaccari Interviewed guest: Georgina Adam Interviewed guest: Mark Vail Interviewed guest: Geeta DyalInterviewed guest: Andrew Vaccari Interviewed guest: Georgina Adam Interviewed guest: Mark Vail Interviewed guest: Geeta Dyal.