Sir George Christie, Leslie Thomas, Elena Baltacha, Sir William Benyon and Deborah Rogers
Obituary. Matthew Bannister remembers Glyndebourne owner Sir George Christie, Virgin Soldiers author Leslie Thomas, literary agent Deborah Rogers and tennis player Elena Baltacha.
Matthew Bannister on
Sir George Christie, who ran the Glyndebourne opera at his family home in Sussex - and oversaw the rebuilding of the theatre.
Leslie Thomas, the Barnado's boy who drew on his experience of National Service to write The Virgin Soldiers. Frederick Forsyth and Sir Tim Rice pay tribute.
Deborah Rogers, agent to many leading writers. Ian McEwan and Dame Gail Rebuck remember her.
Sir William Benyon, the Conservative MP who championed Milton Kenyes and re-built the family's estate.
And Elena Baltacha, Britain's former number one tennis player, who died of liver cancer aged thirty.
Last on
Sir George Christie
Matthew spoke live to broadcaster Christopher Cook.
Born 31 December 1934; died 7 May 2014 aged 79.Leslie Thomas
Matthew spoke to fellow author Frederick Forsyth, to lyricist Sir Tim Rice and to documentary maker Simon Mansfield.
Born 22 March 1931; died 6 May 2014 aged 83.
Elena Baltacha
Matthew spoke to her former coach and British No.1 Jo Durie and to Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ tennis correspondent Russell Fuller.
Born 14 August 1983; died 4 May 2014 aged 30.
Sir William Benyon
Matthew spoke to his son, Richard Benyon MP.
Born 17 January 1930; died 2 May 2014 aged 84.
Deborah Rogers
Matthew spoke to author Ian McEwan and to Dame Gail Rebuck, Chair of Penguin Random House.
Born 6 April 1938; died 30 April 2014 aged 76.
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Matthew Bannister |
| Interviewed Guest | Christopher Cook |
| Interviewed Guest | Frederick Forsyth |
| Interviewed Guest | Tim Rice |
| Interviewed Guest | Simon Mansfield |
| Interviewed Guest | Jo Durie |
| Interviewed Guest | Russell Fuller |
| Interviewed Guest | Richard Benyon |
| Interviewed Guest | Ian McEwan |
| Interviewed Guest | Gail Rebuck |
| Producer | Neil George |
Broadcasts
- Fri 9 May 2014 16:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 FM
- Sun 11 May 2014 20:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
Podcast
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Last Word
Radio 4's weekly obituary programme
