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Richard Gregory

Sue Lawley's castaway is scientist and founder of Bristol Exploratory Richard Gregory.

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is Professor Richard Gregory. He is a scientist who comes from a long line of academics - his father was an astronomer who recruited him at an early age to help build a homemade aeroplane, the 'flying flea', but luckily the project was abandoned before its fatal design fault was discovered. Professor Gregory has gone on since then to invent robots, hearing aids, special telescopes for astronauts, and to set up his famous foundation - the Exploratory in Bristol - which is visited by thousands of people every year.

He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his passion for investigation and invention and about his mission to lift the fog of ignorance which surrounds so many people when it comes to scientific matters.

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

Favourite track: Piano Sonata No 30 in E Opus 109 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Book: An astronomy book by Patrick Moore
Luxury: Astronomical telescope

Available now

40 minutes

Last on

Sun 5 Dec 1993 12:15
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Ludwig van Beethoven

      Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109

      • Philips.

  • Frank Crumit

    Abdul Abulbul Amir

    • The Great Stars.
    • Readers Digest.

  • Arthur Bliss

    Things to Come

    • Decca.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Violin Concerto No. 2 in E major

    • Philips.

  • Paul Dukas

    The Sorcerer's Apprentice

    • Saint-SaΓ«ns Orgel Symphonie.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Roger Shepard

    Shepard Tone

    • Auditory Illusions And Experiments.

  • William Shakespeare

    When that I was and a little tiny boy (from Twelfth Night)

    • Shakespear Songs.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    LΓ  ci darem la mano (from Don Giovanni)

    • Don Giovanni.
    • EMI.

  • Book Choice

    • An astronomy book - Patrick Moore

  • Luxury Choice

    • Astronomical telescope

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Richard Gregory

Broadcasts

  • Sun 4 Apr 1993 12:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 9 Apr 1993 09:05
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Sun 5 Dec 1993 12:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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