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A Russian opera diva, a famous British housebuilder, a reluctant union leader and a '60s trendsetter called 'Mr Freedom'

Matthew Bannister on house builder Sir Lawrie Barratt, soprano Galina Vishnevskaya, union official Jack Hart and design pioneer Tommy Roberts.

Matthew Bannister on

Sir Lawrie Barratt who built hundreds of thousands of Barratt homes during the 1970s and 80s

The soprano Galina Vishnevskaya - a great interpreter of Russian music who - with her husband the cellist Rostropovich - was forced into exile by the Soviet Union.

Jack Hart who led the fight to regain trade union recognition at the government's listening station GCHQ

And the design pioneer Tommy Roberts who sold flamboyant clothes in a series of London shops. Dame Vivienne Westwood and Sir Paul Smith pay tribute to his influence.

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Sun 23 Dec 2012 20:30
大象传媒 Radio 4

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Sir Lawrie Barrett

We spoke to housing expert David Birkbeck and to David Pretty who was Chief Executive of Barratt Developments for 30 years. Born 14 November 1927; died 17 December 2012 aged 85.

Galina Vishnevskaya

Matthew spoke to her impresario and friend Victor Hochhauser and to the writer and broadcaster Norman Lebrecht. Born 25 October 1926; died 11 December 2012 aged 86.

Jack Hart

Matthew spoke to the former 大象传媒 industrial correspondent, Nicholas Jones. Born 18 February 1926; died 27 November 2012 aged 86.

Tommy Roberts

Matthew spoke to fellow designers Dame Vivienne Westwood and Sir Paul Smith and to his biographer Paul Gorman. Born 6 February 1942; died 10 December 2012 aged 70.

Broadcasts

  • Fri 21 Dec 2012 16:00
    大象传媒 Radio 4
  • Sun 23 Dec 2012 20:30
    大象传媒 Radio 4

Podcast

  • Last Word

    Radio 4's weekly obituary programme