Sir Torquil Norman
Philanthropist, businessman and aviator Sir Torquil Norman joins Kirsty Young to choose his Desert Island Discs.
Kirsty Young's castaway week is the aviator, inventor and arts patron, Sir Torquil Norman.
He comes from a family where derring-do is in the DNA - his grandfather was a pioneering airman, his grandmother an adventurer and his father also a keen pilot.
Torquil ended up in the toy trade where the skills needed were, he says, a close attention to detail combined with the outlook on life of a seven year old. He was, he admits, perfectly qualified. In retirement he set about his biggest project - he bought a disused railway engine shed and raised tens of millions of pounds to safeguard its future as a venue for performing arts and a centre for young people.
Record: Nobody Knows You when You're Down and Out - Bessie Smith
Book: Book by his father: Nigel Norman - Verses 1911 - 1943.
Luxury: A miniature still with a little ice-making machine attached to it to make dry martinis.
Last on
Music Played
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Bourvil
Salade de Fruits
Composer: N. Roux-A Canfora et N.Roux
- Salade de Fruits鈥�.
- Pathe Marconi.
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Bob Dylan
Mr Tambourine Man
Composer: Dylan
- Bringing It All Back Home.
- CBS.
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Castaway's Favourite
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Bessie Smith
Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out
Composer: I Cox
- Bessie Smith: The Complete Collection Vol. lV.
- Columbia.
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Fats Waller
Your Feet's Too Big
Composer: Benson/Fisher
- The Cream of Fats Waller.
- Flapper.
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Paul Robeson
Shenandoah
Composer: Trad. Arranged Terry
- Ol鈥� Man River.
- Conifer.
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脡dith Piaf
Mon L茅gionnaire
Composer: Marguerite Monnot-Raymond Asso
- Edith Piaf: 25th Anniversary, Vol.1.
- Columbia.
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The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem
Black Velvet Band
Composer: Trad.
- All the Best Irish Pub Songs.
- Madacy Records.
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Billie Holiday
Stormy Weather
Composer: Harold Arlen 鈥� Theodore Koehler
- The Very Best OF Billie Holiday.
- Verve.
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Book Choice
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Book by his father: Verses 1911 - 1943 - Nigel Norman
Luxury Choice
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A miniature still with a little ice-making machine attached to it to make dry martinis.
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Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Kirsty Young |
| Interviewed Guest | Torquil Norman |
Broadcasts
- Sun 12 Dec 2010 11:15大象传媒 Radio 4
- Fri 17 Dec 2010 09:00大象传媒 Radio 4 FM
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