Main content

Dame Norma Major

Sue Lawley's castaway is wife of the former Prime Minister Dame Norma Major.

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is Dame Norma Major. In her book on the Prime Minister's residence, Chequers, she revealed how Neville Chamberlain would spend time measuring the girths of his favourite trees, and how Ramsay MacDonald chopped wood every morning dressed in plus-fours. She herself was uncomfortable there, and she remembers the loneliness and stress of being the country's First Lady. She says her love of music, and her work for charity helped her through the tough times.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Norma by Bellini
Book: Nine Tailors by Dorothy L Sayers
Luxury: Solar laptop

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 26 May 2000 09:00
大象传媒 Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Kathleen Turner

Next

John Bird

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

Music Played

  • Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters

    Don't Fence Me In

    • Hits of 44.
    • ASV.

  • Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (from On Your Toes)

    Soloist: Richard Rodgers Orchestra: The New York Philharmonic

  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Rigoletto: Caro Nome

    Soloist: Joan Sutherland

    • Rigoletto.
    • Decca.

  • June Bronhill and Keith Mitchell

    I Know Now

    • Robert and Elizabeth.
    • EMI.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor

    Soloist: Philip Entremont Orchestra: The New York Philharmonic Orchestra

    • Rachmaninov Piano Concerto.
    • Sony Classical.

  • Michael Ball

    With One Look

    • Music of the Night.
    • Polygram.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Vesperae solennes de confessore - Laudate Dominum

    Soloist: Janis Kelly

    • Music from Inspector Morse.
    • Virgin.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Vincenzo Bellini

      Norma

      Soloist: Joan Sutherland with John Alexander Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra

      • Norma.
      • Decca.

  • Book Choice

    • Nine Tailors - Dorothy L Sayers

  • Luxury Choice

    • Solar laptop

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Dame Norma Major

Broadcasts

  • Sun 21 May 2000 11:15
    大象传媒 Radio 4
  • Fri 26 May 2000 09:00
    大象传媒 Radio 4

Featured in...

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