Matthew Bannister on

The first female US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who was a leading advocate of the NATO bombing campaign aimed at stopping ethnic cleansing in the Balkans.

Peter Padfield, the naval historian who as a young man took part in the reconstruction of the voyage of the Mayflower from the UK to the USA.

Christina Smith, the colourful entrepreneur known as “the queen of Covent Garden” for her property and business development in that area of London.

Sheila Paine, who travelled to remote areas of the world to build up a renowned collection of textiles.

Producer: Neil George

Interviewed guest: Jim Naughtie

Archive used: One to One: Madeleine Albright, BBC Two, TX 12.9.2005; A Woman Called Smith, BBC Two, TX 30.4.1997