Main content

Doreen Lawrence

Campaigner Doreen Lawrence is interviewed by Kirsty Young.

Kirsty Young's castaway is the campaigner Doreen Lawrence.

The life she thought was hers ended when her son Stephen was murdered by a group of young white men on a street in London in 1993. In the years since, her campaigning has resulted in a shift in public attitudes, laws being changed and policing methods overhauled. She set up a charity in her son's memory and has been awarded an OBE for services to community relations.

She says: "My son was special and I think, what happened to him, I just wanted everyone to know and learn about him - but all the other things, the OBE, I'd swap all of that just to have my son back. When your children are young you take them for granted, because you think they're going to be there forever."

Producer: Leanne Buckle.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 15 Jun 2012 09:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Margaret Rhodes

Next

Ahdaf Soueif

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

Music Played

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Beverley Knight

      Fallen Soldier

      Composer: Beverley Knight

      • Who I Am: Beverley Knight.
      • EMI.

  • Desmond Dekker & the Aces

    Israelites

    Composer: Desmond Dekker and Leslie Kong

    • Reggae Chartbusters 75.
    • CACTUS.

  • Cliff Richard & The Shadows

    Summer Holiday

    Composer: Bruce Welch / Brian Bennett

    • The Hit List.
    • EMI.

  • Percy Sledge

    Warm and Tender Love

    Composer: Robinson

    • Ultimate Soul Collection.
    • WARNER.

  • Etta James

    At Last

    Composer: Warren/Gordon/Robin

    • At Last.
    • CHESS.

  • Garth Hewitt

    You Are Loved Stephen Lawrence

    Composer: Garth Hewitt

    • Garth Hewitt 30: 30 Songs Spanning 30 years 1973 - 2003.
    • ICC.

  • Garnett Silk

    Mama Africa

    Composer: T Otto D BROWNE D Richards B Dixon Thiam Aliaune

    • The Definitive Garnet Silk.
    • Atlantic.

  • Eric Clapton

    Tears in Heaven

    Composer: Clapton / Jennings

    • Clapton Chronicles: The Best Of Eric Clapton.
    • EMI.

  • Book Choice

    • I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - Maya Angelou

  • Luxury Choice

    • An artist's workshop

Credits

Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Doreen Lawrence

Broadcasts

  • Sun 10 Jun 2012 10:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 LW
  • Sun 10 Jun 2012 11:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 FM
  • Fri 15 Jun 2012 09:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

Featured in...

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast