Main content

Claire Horton, charity worker

Claire Horton, who ran Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, shares the eight tracks, book and luxury item she would take with her if cast away to a desert island. With Lauren Laverne.

Claire Horton is the former chief executive of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, and is currently director general of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

She joined Battersea in 2010 during its landmark 150th year, spearheading a campaign which transformed the animal rescue service into a UK top 10 charity brand. During her years in charge, income and volunteer numbers quadrupled; new facilities were developed and the charity successfully campaigned for changes in animal welfare legislation.

As a teenager Claire volunteered for a number of organisations including Mencap and the Riding for the Disabled Association. At 18 she joined the police force as a special constable, patrolling the streets of Dudley where she lived.

Her first position in the charity sector was at the NSPCC and she later worked for the Cats Protection League and the Variety Club of Great Britain. In 2020 she was appointed CBE for her services to animal welfare.

DISC ONE: Howlin鈥� For You by The Black Keys
DISC TWO: Drink, Drink, Drink by Mario Lanza
DISC THREE: Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush
DISC FOUR: Ghost Town by The Specials
DISC FIVE: Agnus Dei, Op 11composed by Samuel Barber, conducted by Edward Higginbottom, performed by Choir of New College Oxford
DISC SIX: Affirmation by Savage Garden
DISC SEVEN: Heroes by David Bowie
DISC EIGHT: Benedictus by Karl Jenkins

BOOK CHOICE: A book by Dick Francis
LUXURY ITEM: A piano and sheet music
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush

Presenter: Lauren Laverne
Producer: Paula McGinley

Available now

37 minutes

Last on

Fri 5 Mar 2021 09:00
大象传媒 Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Sophia Loren

Next

Mark Strong, actor

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

Music Played

  • The Black Keys

    Howlin' for You

    • Brothers.
    • Universal Music Operations Ltd.
    • 4.

  • Mario Lanza

    Drink, Drink, Drink

    • Mario Lanza Sings Songs From The Student Prince / The Desert Song.
    • Gold Seal.
    • 4.

  • Kate Bush

    Wuthering Heights

    • The Kick Inside.
    • Sony Music.
    • 6.

  • The Specials

    Ghost Town

    • The Best Of 2 Tone.
    • Sony Music Entertainment UK Ltd.
    • 1.

  • Samuel Barber

    Agnus Dei, Op 11

    Conductor: Edward Higginbottom. Choir: Choir of New College Oxford.
    • Agnus Dei Vol. 1.
    • Erato.
    • 1.

  • Savage Garden

    Affirmation

    • Truly Madly Completely: The Best of Savage Garden.
    • Sony Music Entertainment UK Ltd.
    • 10.

  • David Bowie

    'Heroes'

    • Nothing Has Changed: The Very Best Of Bowie.
    • Parlophone Records LTD.
    • 17.

  • Karl Jenkins

    Benedictus

    • The Armed Man.
    • Virgin Records Ltd.
    • 12.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 28 Feb 2021 11:00
    大象传媒 Radio 4
  • Fri 5 Mar 2021 09:00
    大象传媒 Radio 4

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast