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Last Word

Factual: Life Stories

Radio 4's weekly obituary programme, telling the life stories of those who have died recently

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

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

21/12/2012

BBC Radio 4 - Last Word, A Russian opera diva, a famous British housebuilder, a reluctant union leader and a '60s trendsetter called 'Mr Freedom'

Matthew Bannister on Sir Lawrie Barratt, Galina Vishnevskaya, Jack Hart and Tommy Roberts.

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.

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Last Word

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

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