Main content

Sir John Wilson

Sue Lawley's castaway is campaigner on behalf of the blind - Sir John Wilson.

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is a man who has devoted his life to helping those who share his own disability - blindness. Sir John Wilson lost his sight at the age of 12 in an accident in his school chemistry laboratory. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about how, undaunted, he went on to win a scholarship to Oxford, and then, at the age of 30, mortgaged his home and set up the Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind. Since then, he has travelled an average of 50,000 miles a year, helping to restore or save the sight of millions of people the world over. Last year he was awarded the Albert Schweizer International Award for Medicine.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Mass in B Minor: The Sanctus by Johann Sebastian Bach
Book: A chess strategy book (in braille)
Luxury: A sonic probe

Available now

40 minutes

Last on

Fri 18 Aug 1995 09:05
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Garrison Keillor

Next

Kate Adie

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

Music Played

  • Duke Ellington and His Orchestra

    Basin Street Blues

    • Duke Ellington - Eastbourne Performance.
    • RCA.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Jesu, Joy of Mans Desiring from Cantata BWV 147

    • Your Hundred Best Tunes.
    • Decca.

  • Franz Schubert

    Symphony No. 6 in C Major

    • Schubert: The 10 Symphonies.
    • Philips.

  • The Drummers of Burundi

    Drummers Of Burundi

    • The Drummers Of Burundi.
    • Real World Records.

  • Anil Mohile

    Indian Water Music

    • Jaltarang Recital By Anil Mohile.
    • Zapata.

  • Adrian Boult

    These Things Shall Be

    • These Things Shall Be.
    • Lyrita Recorded.

  • The Trinidad Calypso Troubadors

    Last Train To San Fernando

    • Duke Of Iron - The Trinidad Calypso Troubadors.
    • Warner Brothers.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Johann Sebastian Bach

      Mass in B minor - Sanctus

      • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Records.

  • Book Choice

    • A chess strategy book (in brail)

  • Luxury Choice

    • A sonic probe

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Sir John Wilson

Broadcasts

  • Sun 8 May 1994 12:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 13 May 1994 09:05
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 18 Aug 1995 09:05
    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