Last Word

Lucy Ash on the former Labour politician Denis Healey who was Chancellor of the Exchequer during the Winter of Discontent in 70s; Catalan literary agent Carmen Ballcells known as Big Mamma to her Nobel Prize winning authors;Captain Bob Arnott, beloved by his passengers on the QE2; Swedish crime writer Henning Mankell and radical priest Reverend Kenneth Leech, who founded the homelessness charity Centrepoint.

Matthew Bannister on

The award winning Irish playwright Brian Friel, best known for Dancing At Lughnasa and Translations.

Argentine General Mario Menéndez who was appointed Governor of the Falkland Islands during the invasion.

Tessa Ransford who founded the Scottish Poetry Library.

John Guillermin who directed movie blockbusters like The Towering Inferno, Death on the Nile, and the 1976 re-make of King Kong.

And Ben Cauley, the trumpeter who was the only survivor of the plane crash which killed Otis Redding.

Producer: Neil George.

Matthew Bannister on

Brian Sewell, the art critic with the distinctive voice, outspoken opinions and love of dogs.

Jackie Collins who sold millions of copies of her sex and showbusiness novels,

Ted Smith, the conservationist who built up the UK's network of Wildlife Trusts.

PJ Kavanagh, the poet who also played a Nazi loving priest in the TV comedy Father Ted.

And Yogi Berra the top baseball player also known for his mangling of the English language.

Matthew Bannister on

Sir David Willcocks - one of the most influential choir masters of his generation. Known for his descants to Christmas carols, he was director of music at King's College Cambridge for 17 years - and led the Bach choir for 38.

Merv Adelson the property developer who founded the TV company Lorimar which made hits like the Waltons, Dallas and Knots Landing.

Mariem Hassan, the singer from the marginalised Sahrawi people who used her music to promote their cause.

Brian Close the Yorkshire and England cricket captain noted for his courage at the crease.

And Beryl Renwick who became a presenter on BBC Radio Humberside in her eighties and won the industry's top award.

Matthew Bannister on

Sir Adrian Cadbury - who was chairman of the family confectionery firm, led its merger with Schweppes and wrote an influential report on corporate governance. He was also an Olympic rower - and Sir Steve Redgrave pays tribute.

Rico Rodriguez the trombonist who helped create ska and reggae and played with the Specials and Jools Holland, who shares his memories.

Ieng Thirith - health minister of the Khmer Rouge and sister in law of Pol Pot. She was indicted for crimes against humanity.

Margaret Harrison who founded the Home Start charity which sends volunteers to help parents who are struggling to cope.

Matthew Bannister on

Lord Montagu of Beaulieu who founded the National Motor Museum, opened his estate to the public and served a prison sentence for homosexuality. His son, who has succeeded to the title, pays tribute.

Joy Beverley - one of the Beverley sisters who became close harmony singing stars in the 1940s and 50s. She married the England and Wolves footballer Billy Wright, making them the Posh and Becks of their day.

The neurologist Oliver Sacks who told his patients' extraordinary stories in books like "The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat".

And Annette Worsley-Taylor who started London Fashion Week to promote young British designers.

Producer: Neil George.

Matthew Bannister on

The trade union official Bernie Passingham who helped women workers at the Ford Motor Company in their fight for equal pay.

Medical researcher Chris Marshall who identified one of the human oncogenes which cause cancer.

Wayne Carson who wrote the song Always on My Mind, which was recorded by Elvis Presley, the Pet Shop Boys and eight hundred other artists.

Michael Turk, a Queen's Waterman and Swan Marker who built historic boats for film and TV.

And author Marie Dobbs who completed Jane Austen's unfinished last novel Sanditon.

Presenter Lucy Ash remembers:

Khaled Al-Asaad, the Syrian archaeologist beheaded by Islamic State who was famous for his in depth knowledge and love of the ancient city of Palmyra;

Jazz Summers, the maverick music manager who took Wham! to China and had a reputation as a hard man;

Jack Gold, multi-BAFTA winning TV director of the Naked Civil Servant and Goodnight Mr Tom;

And Dawn Wofford, the showjumping champion who won her first competition at the age of three.

Producer: Neil George.

Last Word is presented by Reeta Chakrabarti this week. She will be remembering:

The comic writer and novelist David Nobbs - we speak to his friend and fellow writer Jonathan Coe about the man who invented the 1970s anti-hero Reginald Perrin;

Frances Kelsey, the scientist whose concerns about the drug Thalidomide prevented it from being approved in the US;

Kyril Zinovieff, who as a child in Russia saw Rasputin, and as a spy for Britain encountered Hitler;

The Italian fashion designer Elio Fiorucci, who introduced the world to skintight vinyl jeans;

And the musician Harry Pitch, the harmonica player who performed everywhere from jazz clubs to opera houses.

Producer: Neil George.

Matthew Bannister on

The singer and TV presenter Cilla Black - we go behind the scenes to discover the secret of her success on Saturday night TV.

Michael Kidson who taught history at Eton for thirty years, delighting his pupils by his maverick behaviour.

The Indian scientist and reluctant politician APJ Abdul Kalam, known as the "People's President".

The Scottish public health campaigner Evelyn Gillan who targeted domestic violence and fought for minimum pricing for alcohol.

And the actor George Cole, best known for playing Arthur Daley in the TV series Minder.