Last Word

Matthew Bannister on Paul O’Grady, who made his name as the drag queen Lily Savage, and went on to become a much-loved TV and radio star. Gordon Moore, the tech entrepreneur who founded the chip maker Intel and came up with Moore’s law which says that computer processing power doubles every two years. Vera Selby who challenged sexist prejudice to become the women’s world snooker champion – twice. And Simon Emmerson who put together two hugely influential bands – the Afro Celt Sound System and the Imagined Village. Eliza Carthy pays tribute. Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies Interviewee: Zoe Kleinman Interviewee: Harvey Fineberg Interviewee: Eliza Carthy Interviewee: Johnny Kalsi Interviewee: Hector Nunns Interviewee: Keith Green Archive clips used: Paul O’Grady show, BBC Radio 2 03/06/2018; YouTube, uploaded; Lily Savage at the Filth concert in aid of the Terence Higgins Trust, Youtube uploaded 23/09/2014 ; Parkinson, BBC ONE, 28/02/2004; Paul O’Grady on Royal Vauxhall Tavern Raid, Peter Tatchell Foundation, YouTube, uploaded 29/03/2023; Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4, 28/12/2003; Inheritance Tracks, BBC Radio 4, 04/01/2020; Vera Selby on Ladies Day, World Snooker Tour, Youtube uploaded 26/04/2016; Vera Selby: How to play snooker, Youtube uploaded 26/03/2009; Gordon Moore, Frontiers, BBC Radio 4, 01/10/2010; Oral History of Gordon Moore, Computer History magazine, Youtube, uploaded 24/03/2008; A Discussion with Gordon Moore and Harvey Fineberg, Moore Foundation, Youtube uploaded 24/08/2016

Matthew Bannister on Jacqueline Gold CBE – the businesswoman who turned Ann Summers from a couple of seedy sex shops into a multi-million pound high street success. Lance Reddick, the American actor best known for playing Cedric Daniels in The Wire. Traute Lafrenz, the last known survivor of the White Rose Group that actively resisted the Nazis in Germany during the second world war. Lynn Seymour, one of the greatest dramatic ballerinas of the twentieth century. Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies Interviewed guest: Kevin O’Hare Interviewed guest: Charlotte Hardie Interviewed guest: Dr. Renee Meyer Interviewed guest: Helen O’Hara Archive clips used: Desert Island Discs, Jacqueline Gold, BBC Radio 4, 02/11/2018; Woman’s Hour, BBC Radio 4, 18/04/2017; Off Camera Show, Sam Jones interviews Lance Reddick, YouTube, uploaded 04/11/2019; In Town Today, Michael Smee interviews Lynn Seymour, BBC Television 27/02/1975; The Wire _Season 1, HBO Films, uploaded to YouTube 25/02/2011;

Matthew Bannister on The actor and singer Chaim Topol (pictured), best known for his performances in the musical Fiddler on the Roof. Zandra Flemister, the first African American woman to work as a Secret Service special agent. The prolific cartoonist Bill Tidy MBE who created the Cloggies and The Fosdyke Saga. Avis Fawcitt, the Leicestershire music teacher who devoted her life to the Orphean Youth and Concert Orchestra. Producer: Neil George Interviewed guest: John Collinge Interviewed guest: Sylvia Tidy-Harris Interviewed guest: Sir Tim Rice Interviewed guest: Ian Stewart Archive clips used: BBC Radio 4, Desert Island Discs – Chaim Topol 15/10/1983; BBC Radio 4, In The Public Eye 28/12/1967; Batjack Productions/ The Llenroc Productions/ The Mirisch Corporation, Cast A Giant Shadow (1966) film clip; Eon Productions, For Your Eyes Only (1981) film clip; Starling Films/ Famous Films (II)/ Dino De Laurentis Company, Flash Gordon (1980) film clip; The Mirisch Production Company/ Cartier Productions, Fiddler On The Roof (1971); BBC Radio 4, The World This Weekend, South Asian Earthquake 09/10/2005; BBC Radio 4 Extra, The Fosdyke Saga – Tripe War 21/07/2018; BBC Two, One Man’s Week – Bill Tidy 16/04/1975; BBC Radio 4, I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue 21/01/1989; Jeremy Oakley personal archive, Avis Fawcitt actuality and music.

Matthew Bannister on Judith Heumann (pictured), the American disability rights campaigner who led the longest non-violent occupation of a Federal building in US history. Brian Tufano, the cinematographer who shot films like Quadrophenia, Trainspotting and Billy Elliot. Sir David Elliott, a key figure in the negotiations that created the European single market. Elizabeth Foulkes, who helped to define common standards for architects in the UK. Producer: Neil George Interviewed guest: Thomas Shakespeare Interviewed guest: Stuart Harris Interviewed guest: Franc Roddam Interviewed guest: Tony Pierce-Roberts Interviewed guest: Simon Pugsley Interviewed guest: Lord Hannay GCMG Interviewed guest: Nick Foulkes Archive clips used: TEDx talks, Judith Heumann - Our fight for disability rights and why we're not done yet 24/04/2018; BBC Radio 4, Woman's Hour 06/08/2021; Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund, The Power of 504 (1977); StudioCanal/ Working Title Films/ BBC Films, Billy Elliott (2000) trailer; BBC Two Rogue Male 22/09/1976; BBC TV Archive, All in a Day - The Fight 12/11/1973; The Who Films/ Polytel, Quadrophenia (1979) trailer; Channel Four Films/ Figment Films/ The Noel Gay Motion Picture Company, Trainspotting (1996) trailer; Future Films/ MBP (Germany)/ Scala Productions, Last Orders (2001) trailer; BBC TV Archive, The Evacuees 05/03/1975; Screen and Film School, In memory of cinematographer Brian Tufano (February 2023); BBC Sound Archive, Margaret Thatcher speaks on the future of the European community 20/09/1988; DTI, Europe's Open for Business - UK TV advert (1991-92); Nick Foulkes, personal archive interview with Elizabeth Foulkes (2014); British Pathé, New housing to replace demolished village inspected by Nye Bevan (1946).

Kirsty Lang on The extraordinary Lady Betty Boothroyd (pictured) who went from humble beginnings in a Yorkshire mill town to becoming Westminster’s first female Speaker. John Motson OBE - the BBC’s voice of football for half a century, The pioneering New York publisher Marianne Mantell who paved the way for audio books... And Lithuanian pianist Sulamita Aronovsky who founded London’s International Piano competition. Producer: Neil George Interviewed guest: Julia Langdon Interviewed guest: Matthew Rubery Interviewed guest: Ricky George Interviewed guest: Jonathan Powell Archive clips used: YouTube/ The Independent, Baroness Betty Boothroyd’s best moments uploaded on 27/02/2023; BBC One, Parkinson 04/11/2000; Central Cinema Company Film, …und abends in die Scala (1958) film clip; BBC News Archive, Betty Boothroyd obituary – clips from speech at House of Commons; Caedmon Recordings, A Child’s Christmas in Wales, A Story and Five Poems – Dylan Thomas TC 1002; Caedmon Recordings, Ezra Pound Reading His Poetry TC 1122; Caedmon Recordings, JRR Tolkein Reads and Sings his The Lord of the Rings TC 1478; Caedmon Recordings, Ernest Hemingway Reading TC 1185; BBC Two, Victoria Derbyshire Show – John Motson interview 06/09/2017; BBC One, Grandstand 07/07/1990; BBC Two, Sunday Grandstand 24/06/1984; ITV News – Bernard Ingham item 24/02/2023; BBC Radio 3, Music Matters 17/06/2019; London International Piano Competition, promotional video from YouTube.

Kirsty Lang on Dorothy Pitman Hughes who brought black women into the 70s Feminist movement and inspired Gloria Steinem. Raquel Welch (pictured), the Hollywood actor who became a Sixties sex symbol after playing a cavewoman in the film 'One Million Years BC'. The aeronautical engineer Ralph Hooper OBE who designed the revolutionary Harrier jump jet. And Dickie Davies, the sports presenter best known for anchoring ITV Saturday afternoons in the 70s and 80s. Producer: Neil George Interviewed guest: Laura L Lovett Interviewed guest: Professor John Fielding Interviewed guest: Sir Colin Chandler Interviewed guest: Jim Rosenthal Archive clips used: ITV Sport, World of Sport 1985/1973/1981; CBS Mornings/ YouTube Channel, Life and Legacy of Activist and Feminist Leader Dorothy Pitman Hughes uploaded on 24/07/2021; Artemis Rising Foundation/ Saks Picture Company/ The Glorias, The Glorias – movie clip (2020); Associated British Pathé/ Hammer Films/ Seven Arts Productions, One Million Years BC – trailer (1966); BBC Radio 2, Gloria Hunniford Show 01/01/1989; BBC One, Parkinson 11/11/1972; Twentieth Century Fox, Myra Breckinridge – movie clip (1970); HIT Entertainment/ Henson Associates (HA)/ Incorporated Television Company (ITC), The Muppet Show S03E11 17/11/1978; Film at Lincoln Center/ YouTube Channel, Q&A with Raquel Welch uploaded on 23/02/2012; BBC Two, Designing the ‘60s 15/03/2003; British Pathé, Harrier Plane (1968); BBC One, Red Arrows Flyover Centenary of RAF 10/07/2018; Thames Television, The Benny Hill Show 18/02/1976; ITV Studios, The Best of ITV Wrestling (DVD) 2006.

Matthew Bannister on Professor David Vaughan OBE, who was a leading expert on the effects of climate change on glaciers in the Antarctic. Burt Bacharach (pictured), who wrote scores of hit songs including 'I Say A Little Prayer', 'Do You Know The Way To San José' and 'Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head'. Janet Anderson, the Labour MP who wrote entertaining reports of proceedings in parliament for Queen Elizabeth. Eileen Sheridan – one of Britain’s greatest cyclists, she held the speed record for the journey from Land’s End to John O’Groats for 36 years. Producer: Neil George Interviewed guest: Justin Rowlatt Interviewed guest: Professor Dame Jane Francis Interviewed guest: Professor Andrew Shepherd Interviewed guest: Julia Langdon Interviewed guest: Paul Jones Archive clips used: BBC World News, Our World - Journey to Doomsday Glacier 07/02/2020; BBC News, Scientists at NASA say East Antarctica is showing signs of significant melting 11/12/2018; The Christmas TV & Film Company/ BBC Four, Burt Bacharach... This Is Now 30/04/2012; BBC Radio Wales, Eye on Wales 16/06/1996; BBC Radio 4, With Humble Duty Reports... 05/10/2014; British Pathé, Sporting Britons - Eileen Sheridan's Record 1954; British Pathé, Housewife Cyclist 1956, Testimony Films/ BBC Four, Pedalling Dreams - The Raleigh Story 20/07/2017.

Matthew Bannister on Frene Ginwala (pictured), one of the leading figures in the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa, who became Speaker of the country’s first democratically elected parliament. Lady Martha Bruce OBE, governor of Scotland’s first purpose built prison for women. General Pervez Musharraf, who took power as President of Pakistan in a military coup and supported George Bush’s War on Terror. Paco Rabanne, the designer who created clothes from metal, plastics and wood. Producer: Neil George Interviewed guest: John Battersby Interviewed guest: Tessa Dunlop Interviewed guest: Umer Farooq Interviewed guest: Suzy Menkes OBE Archive clips used: C-Span, South African State of the National Address, introduction 24/05/1994; The Freedom Collection, Frene Ginwala – We had more offices than the South African Government had Embassies 06/07/2015; British Pathé, Come On Girls Join The Ats 1944; British Movietone, ATS Training Centre 07/07/1941; BBC Radio 4, Now – In Scotland 30/06/1971; BBC One, Nationwide 09/12/1975; ABC Australia, Profile of a General 2000; BBC Two, Newsnight 13/10/1999; BBC World News, HARDtalk – Pervez Musharraf 10/01/2001; NDTV – News (YouTube Channel), Pervez Musharraf interview uploaded on 17/11/2011; BBC News, Assassination Attempt On Musharraf 25/12/2003; FRANCE24 (YouTube Channel), EN – Culture – Paco Rabanne interview uploaded on 04/07/2007; British Pathé, Cinetic Fashions aka Paco Rabanne Way-Out Fashions 1967; British Pathé, Metal Fashions 1969; Paco Rabanne, UK television advert 1986.

Matthew Bannister on Ralph Ehrmann, the German-born businessman behind the success of the Airfix model kits that delighted a generation of young boys in the 1960s and 70s. Sylvia Syms (pictured), the actor whose roles ranged from beautiful heroines in the 1950s and 60s to Margaret Thatcher and The Queen Mother later in life. Rabbi Dr Abraham Levy, the leader of the UK’s oldest Jewish community who was awarded the OBE for services to interfaith relations. Jo Sandilands, who edited the magazines Honey and Woman and became Programme Controller of Capital Radio in London. Producer: Neil George Interviewed guest: Melanie Williams Interviewed guest: Jenny Agutter Interviewed guest: Jonathan Sacerdoti Interviewed guest: Alexandra Ehrmann Interviewed guest: Jeremy Brook Interviewed guest: Gay Search Archive clips used: East of Sudan (clip), YouTube: MorningsideMovies channel, uploaded 28/11/2021; In Town Today, BBC Radio TX 21/08/1965; My Teenage Daughter (clip), YouTube: Network Distributing channel, uploaded 01/09/2014; Ice Cold in Alex (clip), YouTube: Coolmacatrain channel, uploaded 09/02/2019; Clip from ITV news item about Intermission Youth Theatre School, YouTube: Ricardo P Lloyd channel, uploaded 04/11/2019;Excerpt of Les Barker reading his poem ‘Déjà Vu’, YouTube: Les Barker channel, uploaded 03/03/2020; Relighting the Candle, BBC 1 TX 14/10/1993; Mazeltov Israel, BBC 1 TX 30/04/1998; Woman Magazine advertisement, YouTube: Nina Perez channel, uploaded 18/01/2015; Chris Tarrant jingle, YouTube: MayDay51 channel, uploaded 22/12/2017; Airfix advertisement, YouTube: British Nostalgia channel, uploaded 06/03/2015

Matthew Bannister on Howard Baderman, the hospital consultant who transformed the discipline of emergency medicine and treated casualties from high profile events like the Kings Cross Tube Fire and the sinking of the Thames river boat The Marchioness. David Crosby (pictured), the singer and songwriter with the Byrds and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young whose life went through periods of chaos through drug addiction. Milly Thompson, the artist who, as a member of the BANK collective, satirised the pretentiousness of the art world. Brenda Heywood, the archaeologist who was fascinated by the stories behind the building of Hadrian’s Wall. Producer: Neil George Interviewed guest: James Baderman Interviewed guest: Simon Bedwell Interviewed guest: Sacha Craddock Interviewed guest: Suzanne Heywood Archive clips used: BBC Radio 4, The World Tonight – King’s Cross fire 18/11/1987; BBC One, Breakfast Time – King’s Cross fire 19/11/1987; BBC One, The Nine O’Clock News 20/08/1989; BBC One, BBC Breakfast News 03/06/1991; WNYC, Here’s The Thing – David Crosby 24/04/2018; BBC Radio 4, Mastertapes – David Crosby (The B-Side) 19/11/2013; BBC Radio 4, Mastertapes – David Crosby (The A-Side) 18/11/2013; Channel 5 News (US) – Today 12/12/1985; AXS TV, The Big Interview with Dan Rather – Crosby, Stills & Nash 07/02/2020.