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Sir Aaron Klug

Sue Lawley's castaway is former President of the Royal Society Sir Aaron Klug.

Sir Aaron Klug grew up in Durban, South Africa on the edge of the Bush, which provided him with enough snakes and monkeys to satisfy his curiosity. A bright child, he read anything that was available and enjoyed an idyllic childhood. He started studying medicine at university level in Johannesburg at the age of fifteen, but soon switched to chemistry, physics and mathematics, which provided more stimulus for his enquiring mind.

He began to research at Cape Town University and later Cambridge, where he joined the world-famous Cavendish Laboratory and later the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology. His work led to him winning the Nobel prize for Chemistry in 1982 for his work on cell structure.

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

Favourite track: The Ode to Joy (Symphony No 9) by Ludwig van Beethoven
Book: A set of books on Roman Republican and Imperial coinage
Luxury: A set of mixed Greek and Roman coinage

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 17 May 2002 09:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Zululand War Dancers

    Zululand War Dance (Ha Uyamqala Okandaba)

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Violin Concerto in E minor - 1st movement

    Soloist: Jascha Heifetz Orchestra: NBC Symphony Orchestra

    • Mendelssohn Violin Concerto.
    • Naxos.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Fantasia on Greensleeves

    Orchestra: English String Orchestra Conductor: William Boughton

    • Vaughan Williams Orchestral Works.
    • Nimbus.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Ludwig van Beethoven

      Symphony No. 9 in D minor 'Choral' - Ode to Joy

      Choir: Gulbenkian Choir, Lisbon

      • Beethoven's 9th Symphony.
      • Philips.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Bei Männern (from The Magic Flute)

    Soloist: Eva Lind and Olaf Bar Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields

    • Mozart: Die Zauberflote.
    • Philips.

  • Edward Elgar

    Pomp & Circumstance March No. 2 in A minor

    Orchestra: English String Orchestra

    • Elgar Pomp and Circumstance.
    • Nimbus.

  • Cole Porter

    You're the Top

    • Showstoppers: Various.
    • RCA.

  • Max Bruch

    Kol Nidrei

    Artist: Ofra Harnoy Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra

    • Bloch: Schelomo: Bruch; Kol Nidrei.
    • RCA.

  • Book Choice

    • A set of books on Roman Republican and Imperial coinage

  • Luxury Choice

    • A set of mixed Greek and Roman coinage

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Sir Aaron Klug

Broadcasts

  • Sun 12 May 2002 11:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 17 May 2002 09:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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