Sir Roy Strong
Sir Roy Strong, historian and gardener, is interviewed by Kirsty Young.
Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the historian, gardener and diarist Sir Roy Strong.
He stormed the establishment in the 1960s - a proto-meritocrat, in possession of a sharp mind, fizzing ambition and a brown velvet frock coat.
An avowedly unhappy and clever child he turned first to history and then art for stimulation and solace, setting down a template for a working life that would lead him to be the youngest ever director of the National Portrait Gallery and, later, to run the The Victoria and Albert Museum. Such early success left him with a fundamental problem - having fulfilled his wildest dreams by the age of 38 - what was he to do with the rest of his life? He would go on to publish his diaries and together with his wife Julia, created a garden at his home in Herefordshire, the Laskett.
Producer: Cathy Drysdale.
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Sir Roy Strong: 'The whole thing was preposterous!'
Duration: 01:10
Music Played
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William Walton
Crown Imperial from the Coronation March
Performer: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Performer: Sir Charles Groves.- Walton Β– Spitfire Prelude and Fugue.
- EMI.
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Vanessa Lee & Harry James and His Orchestra
Someday my heart will awake (from King's Rhapsody)
- A tribute to Ivor Novello.
- Music for Pleasure.
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Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
The final from Sleeping Beauty
Performer: Kirov Orchestra.- Sleeping Beauty.
- Philips.
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Benjamin Britten
The finale of Act 2 Scene 1 from Gloriana
Performer: Josephine Barstow. Performer: Orchestra and Chorus of the Welsh National Opera. Performer: Charles Mackerras.- Gloriana.
- ARGO.
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Sybil Thorndike
Ellen Terry
- People Past and Present.
- Fontana.
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Castaway's Favourite
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Edward Elgar
Theme from the Enigma Variations
Performer: Philharmonia Orchestra. Performer: Sir Andrew Davis.- Andrew Davis: Enigma Variations.
- Signum.
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The Kinks
Dedicated Follower Of Fashion
- The singles Collection.
- Sanctuary.
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Liverpool Cathedral Choir, Massed Choirs from Merseyside, Liverpool Cathedral Brass Ensemble, Ian Tracey & Ian Wells
For all the saints who from their labours rest
- Your Favourite Hymns.
- Virgin Classics.
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Book Choice
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The Oxford Companion to the Garden - Patrick Taylor
Luxury Choice
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His custom-built tricycle
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Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Kirsty Young |
| Interviewed Guest | Roy Strong |
| Producer | Cathy Drysdale |
Broadcasts
- Sun 12 Oct 2014 11:15Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
- Fri 17 Oct 2014 09:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
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