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Sir Torquil Norman

Philanthropist, businessman and aviator Sir Torquil Norman joins Kirsty Young to choose his Desert Island Discs.

Kirsty Young's castaway week is the aviator, inventor and arts patron, Sir Torquil Norman.

He comes from a family where derring-do is in the DNA - his grandfather was a pioneering airman, his grandmother an adventurer and his father also a keen pilot.

Torquil ended up in the toy trade where the skills needed were, he says, a close attention to detail combined with the outlook on life of a seven year old. He was, he admits, perfectly qualified. In retirement he set about his biggest project - he bought a disused railway engine shed and raised tens of millions of pounds to safeguard its future as a venue for performing arts and a centre for young people.

Record: Nobody Knows You when You're Down and Out - Bessie Smith
Book: Book by his father: Nigel Norman - Verses 1911 - 1943.
Luxury: A miniature still with a little ice-making machine attached to it to make dry martinis.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 17 Dec 2010 09:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 FM

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Music Played

  • Bourvil

    Salade de Fruits

    Composer: N. Roux-A Canfora et N.Roux

    • Salade de Fruits….
    • Pathe Marconi.

  • Bob Dylan

    Mr Tambourine Man

    Composer: Dylan

    • Bringing It All Back Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ.
    • CBS.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Bessie Smith

      Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out

      Composer: I Cox

      • Bessie Smith: The Complete Collection Vol. lV.
      • Columbia.

  • Fats Waller

    Your Feet's Too Big

    Composer: Benson/Fisher

    • The Cream of Fats Waller.
    • Flapper.

  • Paul Robeson

    Shenandoah

    Composer: Trad. Arranged Terry

    • Ol’ Man River.
    • Conifer.

  • Γ‰dith Piaf

    Mon LΓ©gionnaire

    Composer: Marguerite Monnot-Raymond Asso

    • Edith Piaf: 25th Anniversary, Vol.1.
    • Columbia.

  • The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem

    Black Velvet Band

    Composer: Trad.

    • All the Best Irish Pub Songs.
    • Madacy Records.

  • Billie Holiday

    Stormy Weather

    Composer: Harold Arlen – Theodore Koehler

    • The Very Best OF Billie Holiday.
    • Verve.

  • Book Choice

    • Book by his father: Verses 1911 - 1943 - Nigel Norman

  • Luxury Choice

    • A miniature still with a little ice-making machine attached to it to make dry martinis.

Credits

Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Torquil Norman

Broadcasts

  • Sun 12 Dec 2010 11:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 17 Dec 2010 09:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 FM

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