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Lord Stevens

Kirsty Young's castaway is former head of the Metropolitan Police Lord Stevens.

Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the former head of the Metropolitan Police, Lord Stevens. Although he was to become known as 'the policeman's policeman', it was not his first career choice - as a child he wanted to be a pilot but was told that his eyesight was not good enough for him to make it his career.

His first beat, more than forty years ago, was on Tottenham Court Road in London. He soon moved over to CID and earned the nickname 'Swifty Stevens' for his impressive arrest record. When he took over at the Met in 2000, it had just been branded 'institutionally racist' and the morale and reputation of the force was at rock bottom. He's credited with turning it around and regaining public confidence. Even in his retirement, he's continuing to head two major investigations - one into the circumstances around the death of Diana, Princess of Wales and the second into football bungs.

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

Favourite track: Reach for the Sky by Central Band of the R.A.F.
Book: Reach for the Sky: The Story of Douglas Bader by Paul Brickhill
Luxury: Cellar of champagne

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 17 Nov 2006 09:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Hubert Parry

    Jerusalem

    Choir: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Singers Orchestra: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Symphony Chorus and Orchestra

    • Highlights from the Last Night of the Proms.
    • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Central Band of the Royal Air Force

      Reach for the Sky

      • Salute to Heroes: Central Band of the R.A.F..
      • Music for Pleasure.

  • Rudyard Kipling

    If

    Reader: Des Lynam

    • Time to Stand and Stare.
    • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ.

  • Gustav Holst

    Jupiter (from The Planets)

    Orchestra: The Philadelphia Orchestra Conductor: Eugene Ormandy

    • Holst: The Planets.
    • RCA.

  • Andrew Lloyd Webber

    All I ask of you (from the Phantom of the Opera)

    Soloist: Sarah Brightman and Steve Burton

    • Highlights from Phantom of the Opera.
    • Polydor.

  • Huddersfield Choral Society

    Abide With Me Fast Falls The Evertide

    • The Hymns Album: Huddersfield Choral Society.
    • Music for Pleasure.

  • Band of HM Royal Marines

    When the Saints Go Marching In

    • Men of Music: Royal Marines.
    • Music Masters.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    1812 Overture

    Orchestra: Leipzig Symphony Orchestra Conductor: Kurt Masur

    • The Best of Tchaikovsky.
    • Telstar.

  • Book Choice

    • Reach for the Sky: The Story of Douglas Bader - Paul Brickhill

  • Luxury Choice

    • Cellar of champagne

Credits

Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Lord Stevens

Broadcast

  • Fri 17 Nov 2006 09:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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