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Sir George Christie, Leslie Thomas, Elena Baltacha, Sir William Benyon and Deborah Rogers

Obituary. Matthew Bannister remembers Glyndebourne owner Sir George Christie, Virgin Soldiers author Leslie Thomas, literary agent Deborah Rogers and tennis player Elena Baltacha.

Matthew Bannister on

Sir George Christie, who ran the Glyndebourne opera at his family home in Sussex - and oversaw the rebuilding of the theatre.

Leslie Thomas, the Barnado's boy who drew on his experience of National Service to write The Virgin Soldiers. Frederick Forsyth and Sir Tim Rice pay tribute.

Deborah Rogers, agent to many leading writers. Ian McEwan and Dame Gail Rebuck remember her.

Sir William Benyon, the Conservative MP who championed Milton Kenyes and re-built the family's estate.

And Elena Baltacha, Britain's former number one tennis player, who died of liver cancer aged thirty.

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28 minutes

Sir George Christie

Matthew spoke live to broadcaster Christopher Cook.

Born 31 December 1934; died 7 May 2014 aged 79.

Leslie Thomas

Matthew spoke to fellow author Frederick Forsyth, to lyricist Sir Tim Rice and to documentary maker Simon Mansfield.

Born 22 March 1931; died 6 May 2014 aged 83.

Elena Baltacha

Matthew spoke to her former coach and British No.1 Jo Durie and to 大象传媒 tennis correspondent Russell Fuller.

Born 14 August 1983; died 4 May 2014 aged 30.

Sir William Benyon

Matthew spoke to his son, Richard Benyon MP.

Born 17 January 1930; died 2 May 2014 aged 84.

Deborah Rogers

Matthew spoke to author Ian McEwan and to Dame Gail Rebuck, Chair of Penguin Random House.

Born 6 April 1938; died 30 April 2014 aged 76.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Matthew Bannister
Interviewed Guest Christopher Cook
Interviewed Guest Frederick Forsyth
Interviewed Guest Tim Rice
Interviewed Guest Simon Mansfield
Interviewed Guest Jo Durie
Interviewed Guest Russell Fuller
Interviewed Guest Richard Benyon
Interviewed Guest Ian McEwan
Interviewed Guest Gail Rebuck
Producer Neil George

Broadcasts

  • Fri 9 May 2014 16:00
  • Sun 11 May 2014 20:30

Podcast