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Baroness O'Cathain, Michael Collins, Sharon Matola, Jim Steinman (pictured, with Meat Loaf)

Matthew Bannister on businesswoman Baroness O’Cathain, astronaut Michael Collins, zoo director Sharon Matola, songwriter Jim Steinman.

Matthew Bannister on

Baroness O’Cathain, the successful businesswoman who became Managing Director of the Barbican Arts Centre in London but left after losing the confidence of staff and artists.

Michael Collins, the Apollo 11 astronaut who stayed in the Apollo command module while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon.

Sharon Matola, the former lion tamer who became an environmentalist in Belize, establishing a zoo to care for the country’s rare and rescued animals.

Jim Steinman, the songwriter whose masterwork β€œBat Out Of Hell” became one of the best-selling albums of all time.

Producer: Neil George

Interviewed guest: Lord Faulkner of Worcester
Interviewed guest: Sir Nicholas Kenyon
Interviewed guest: Lou Nicolait
Interviewed guest: Andrea Polanco
Interviewed guest: Meat Loaf
Interviewed guest: Don Black

Archive clips used: The Farming Week: Radio 4, TX 1.8.1987; Woman's Hour: Radio 4, TX 17.10.1989; 13 Minutes to the Moon: World Service, TX 15.5.2019; Naomi's Nightmares of Nature: CΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ, TX 2.7.2014; Simon Bates interview with Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman, recorded circa 1993, TX unknown; World at One: Radio 4, TX 21.4.2021; I Write the Songs - Series 3: Radio Wales, TX 12.3.2016

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Sun 9 May 2021 20:30
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Baroness O'Cathain

Born 2 February 1938; died 23 April 2021, aged 83.

Last Word spoke to Lord Faulkner of Worcester who worked with her in the House of Lords and to Sir Nicholas Kenyon, Managing Director of the Barbican Centre.

Michael Collins

Born 31 October 1930; died 28 April 2021, aged 90.

Sharon Matola

Born 3 June 1954; died 21 March 2021, aged 66.

Last Word spoke to her friend and fellow conservationist, Lou Nicolait and to Belizean journalist, Andrea Polanco.

Jim Steinman

Born 1 November 1947; died 19 April 2021, aged 73.

Last Word spoke to Meat Loaf and to lyricist Don Black, who both worked with Jim.

Broadcasts

  • Fri 7 May 2021 16:00
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Sun 9 May 2021 20:30
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

Podcast

  • Last Word

    Radio 4's weekly obituary programme