Last Word

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BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

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

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Last Word: Edward de Bono, Paul Van Doren, Alastair Hanton OBE, Violetta Elvin

Edward de Bono, Paul Van Doren, Alastair Hanton, Violetta Elvin

Edward de Bono, Paul Van Doren, Alastair Hanton OBE, Violetta Elvin

BBC Radio 4 - Last Word, Edward de Bono, Paul Van Doren, Alastair Hanton OBE, Violetta Elvin

Matthew Bannister on a thinker, a businessman, banker, a ballerina.

Matthew Bannister on thinker Edward De Bono, businessman Paul Van Doren, banker Alastair Hanton, ballerina Violetta Elvin.

Pictured: Edward de Bono

Matthew Bannister on

Edward De Bono, the psychologist who advocated lateral thinking – and sold the concept to companies around the world.

Paul Van Doren, the American businessman whose Vans sneakers were adopted by skateboarders, making him a multi-millionaire.

Alastair Hanton OBE, who set up the National Girobank and developed direct debits to allow greater access to banking before becoming a campaigner for ethical investing and greener transport.

Violetta Elvin, the Russian ballerina who made her name as a rival to Dame Margot Fonteyn at the Royal Ballet.

Producer: Neil George

Interviewed guest: Sarah Tucker
Interviewed guest: Steve Van Doren
Interviewed guest: Nicholas Smith
Interviewed guest: Angus Hanton
Interviewed guest: Raffaele Lauro
Interviewed guest: Ronald Hynd
Translator: Martin Esposito

Archive clips used: Logical and Lateral, Radio 4 29/12/1976; Today, Radio 4 29/04/1976; Fast Times at Ridgemont High, directed by Amy Heckerling, Universal Pictures 1982; LA Olympics Opening Ceremony, ABC News 1984; Alastair Hanton Oral History, The Hanton Family 2021.

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Last Word

Edward de Bono, Paul Van Doren, Alastair Hanton OBE, Violetta Elvin

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