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James Dyson

Sue Lawley's castaway is inventor James Dyson.

Sue Lawley's guest this week is James Dyson. Today he's one of the richest men in Britain, but he began with an idea, a piece of cardboard and some sticky-backed plastic. Five years and more than 5,000 prototypes later, he was confident that he had invented a new type of vacuum cleaner. But that was to prove only the beginning of a long, drawn-out battle to get it licensed.

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

Favourite track: Slowdown by Wax On Wax Off
Book: Olives: The Life and Love of a Noble Fruit by Mort Rosenslum
Luxury: Olive Oil

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 25 Jun 1999 09:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe MP

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Music Played

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    St Matthew Passion - Erbarme dich

    Soloist: Kathleen Ferrier Orchestra: Jacques Orchestra

    • Kathleen Ferrier: Vol. 2 Bach: St Matthew Passion.
    • Decca.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Bassoon Concerto in B flat major

    Soloist: Gwydion Brooke Orchestra: The Royal Philharmonic

    • Mozart: Concertos.
    • EMI Classics.

  • Bob Dylan

    Simple Twist of Fate

    • Blood On the Tracks.
    • Columbia.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Warum ist das Licht gegeben, Op. 74/1

    Artist: Bath Camerata

    • Giraffe Productions - CASTAWAY'S DISC.

  • Max Bruch

    Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor - 2nd movement

    Soloist: Maxim Vengerov Orchestra: The Leipzig Gewandhaus

    • Bruch: Mendelssohn: Violin.
    • Teldec.

  • Henry Purcell

    Blessed are they that fear the Lord

    Artist: Kings College Choir

    • Purcell: Anthems.
    • HMV.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • wax.on wax.off

      Slowdown - CASTAWAY'S DISC

  • Adagio in G Minor for Organ & Strings

    Choir: Choir of New College Oxford Conductor: Edward Higginbottom

  • Book Choice

    • Olives: The Life and Love of a Noble Fruit - Mort Rosenslum

  • Luxury Choice

    • Olive Oil

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest James Dyson

Broadcasts

  • Sun 20 Jun 1999 11:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 25 Jun 1999 09:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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