Last Word

Matthew Bannister on

Bruce Tulloh, who ran across the United States in record time and became European 5,000 metres champion barefoot.

Emma Smith the author of an acclaimed novel based on her travels to India with Laurie Lee.

Professor Peter Waddington the sociologist who studied policing and came up with the technique of "kettling" to control street protests

The Dowager Countess of Harewood, an Australian former model whose affair with the married Earl caused a scandal in the 1960s.

And Ronald Chesney, half of the writing partnership that brought us the hit TV sitcoms The Rag Trade and On The Buses.

Presenter: Matthew Bannister

Matthew Bannister on

Lord Martin of Springburn: the former House of Commons speaker Michael Martin. He resigned after MPs lost confidence in his handling of the row over their expenses.

Caroline Brown, the cellist who founded the Hanover Band to perform the works of Beethoven, Haydn and Schubert on period instruments.

Valerie Riches, who campaigned for traditional family values and against abortion.

Gustav Born, the pharmacologist who made significant discoveries about blood clotting.

Michael Anderson, the prolific film director best known for making The Dam Busters.

Producer: Neil George.

Matthew Bannister on

Avicii, the Swedish DJ whose songs became anthems for millions of festival goers around the world. He was found dead aged 28 in Oman.

Dr. Ruth Nussenzweig the medical researcher who laid the foundations for the development of a vaccine for malaria.

Anita Shreve, the author of 18 novels, including The Pilot's Wife which sold more than three million copies.

Guy Playfair, the ghost hunter who investigated the controversial Enfield Poltergeist in the 1970s.

And Bob Bura, half of the animation team that brought us Trumpton, Camberwick Green and Chigley.

Matthew Bannister on

Barbara Bush, the first woman in history to see both her husband and son sworn in as President of the USA.

Milos Forman, the film director who made Amadeus and the multi Oscar winning One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.

Dame Daphne Sheldrick who devoted her life to saving elephants orphaned by poachers and other Kenyan wild animals.

Livia Gollancz, the french horn player who took over the running of the family's successful publishing house from her father.

And Dale Winton who presented Pick of the Pops on radio and Supermarket Sweep on TV.

Producer: Neil George.

Photo: Gillian Ayres

Matthew Bannister on

The artist Gillian Ayres, known for her large, exuberant abstract paintings, which reflected her exuberant character.

General Efraín Ríos Montt, the Guatemalan dictator who was convicted of genocide against his own people.

David Cobham, the naturalist and film maker who brought Tarka the Otter to the screen.

Nikki Sievwright, the Sixties model who went on to serve in the Ulster Defence Regiment.

Fergus Anckorn, who used his skill as a magician to win food for his fellow inmates in Japanese prisoner of war camps.

Photo: Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

Matthew Bannister on

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela who was one of the leading anti apartheid campaigners in South Africa, but also faced allegations of being involved in violence and fraud.

Drue Heinz, who used the money from her husband's canned food business to become a major supporter of writers and artists.

Ray Wilkins, the footballer who captained England and played for 12 different clubs including Chelsea and Manchester United.

Eric Bristow, five times world darts champion.

And Steven Bochco, the American TV writer and producer who brought us Hill Street Blues and LA Law.

Archive clips: Sport on Four, Radio 4 12/01/1985; Sporting Greats, BBC TV 30/03/1999; Woman's Hour, Radio 4 02/10/1986.

Photo: Zena Skinner

Julian Worricker on:

Charles P Lazarus, the founder of Toys 'R' Us - a store chain which, for decades, captured the hearts of consumers around the world

Brazilian political activist Marielle Franco, who grew up in the favelas and was elected to Rio city council

Landscape designer John Brookes, described as 'the man who made the modern garden'....

Zena Skinner, one of the most popular chefs on television in the 1960s and 70s

And convicted Nazi war criminal, Oskar Groning, who became known as the bookkeeper of Auschwitz

Archive clips from: AUSCHWITZ: THE NAZIS AND ‘THE FINAL SOLUTION’, BBC ONE 11/01/2005; GARDENER’S WORLD, BBC TWO; GARDENER’S QUESTION TIME, RADIO 4

Photo: Lady Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde

Matthew Bannister on

Lady Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde who, as Brenda Dean, was the leader of the print union Sogat during the bitter Wapping dispute of 1986.

Sir William McAlpine who combined running the family construction business with a passion for saving the UK's railway heritage, including the Flying Scotsman.

Cardinal Keith O'Brien who resigned as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh after apologising for sexual misconduct.

Katie Boyle, the TV and radio broadcaster who presented the Eurovision Song Contest.

Garech Browne, who devoted himself to recording and promoting Ireland's traditional music.

Archive clips from: WOMAN'S HOUR, RADIO 4 23/08/1981; A LIFE IN QUESTION, RADIO 4 21/12/2003; BBC NEWS, RADIO 4 24/02/2010; SUNDAY, RADIO 4 19/03/2012; THE REUNION, RADIO 4 25/08/2017; LEGENDS:THE CHIEFTAINS, BBC TV 14/03/2008; FRANCIS BACON: A BRUSH WITH VIOLENCE, BBC TV 28/01/2017.

Photo: Professor Stephen Hawking

Matthew Bannister on

Professor Stephen Hawking, one of the world's best known scientists who carried out pioneering research into black holes. The Astronomer Royal, Sir Martin Rees pays tribute.

Hubert de Givenchy, the French fashion designer who dressed Audrey Hepburn.

Michele Hanson who wrote a popular newspaper column about her struggles to bring up her teenage daughter. That daughter - Amy - pays tribute.

Sir John Sulston, the biologist who led the project to sequence the human genome.

And the comedian Sir Ken Dodd, whose shows could last into the early hours of the morning.

Archive clips from:TODAY PROGRAMME, RADIO 4 14/3/2018; THE KEY TO THE UNIVERSE:THE SEARCH FOR THE LAWS OF CREATION, BBC TV 27/01/1977; KEN DODD:HOW TICKLED I'VE BEEN, RADIO 2 03/11/2007; DESERT ISLAND DISCS, RADIO 4 03/06/1990; HOME TRUTHS, RADIO 4 03/01/2004; LATE NIGHT WOMAN’S HOUR, RADIO 4 26/05/2017; THE LIFE SCIENTIFIC, RADIO 4 29/11/2011; DESERT ISLAND DISCS, RADIO 4 13/05/2001

Photo: Sir Roger Bannister

Matthew Bannister on

Trevor Baylis, the eccentric inventor who came up with the wind up radio.

Lerone Bennett, the American academic who wrote many influential books on black history including "Before the Mayflower".

Penny Vincenzi the best selling novelist who told stories of glamorous heroines, romance and business intrigue.

Ian Aitken one of the UK's most influential political columnists. Jim Naughtie pays tribute.

Sir Roger Bannister, the neurologist who was the first person to run the mile in under four minutes. We'll find out what happened when he tried to help me do the same.

Producer: Neil George

Archive clips from: MATTHEW BANNISTER, Radio 5 Live 5.5.2004; TOMORROW'S WORLD, BBC TV 24.9.1997 and 15.4.1994; GO4IT, BBC TV 11.5.2008; ABRAHAM LINCOLN:SAINT OR SINNER, BBC TV 3.2.2011; RADIO 2 ARTS PROGRAMME 13.10.2000; KALEIDOSCOPE, RADIO 4 14.11.1995.