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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

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45 minutes

Last on

Fri 26 May 2000 09:00
BBC Radio 4

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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
    BBC Radio 4
  • Fri 26 May 2000 09:00
    BBC Radio 4

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