Last Word

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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: Doddie Weir, Hebe de Bonafini, Irene Cara, Cornelia Schroeder

02/12/2022

Doddie Weir, Hebe de Bonafini, Irene Cara, Cornelia Schroeder

BBC Radio 4 - Last Word, Doddie Weir, Hebe de Bonafini, Irene Cara, Cornelia Schroeder

Matthew Bannister on a rugby player, a campaigner, a singer and a virologist.

Matthew Bannister on rugby player Doddie Weir, campaigner Hebe de Bonafini, singer Irene Cara and virologist Cornelia Schroeder.

Matthew Bannister on

Doddie Weir (pictured), the leading Scottish rugby player who spent the last few years of his life raising funds for research into the causes of Motor Neurone Disease. 

Hebe de Bonafini, the human rights activist from Argentina who led the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo in campaigning to trace victims of the country’s so-called “Dirty War”.

Irene Cara, the singer and actor best known for her role in the film “Fame” and for co-writing the hit song “Flashdance”. 

Cornelia Schroeder, the virologist from East Germany who made a significant contribution to the treatment of herpes and influenza.


Producer: Neil George 

Interviewed guest: Prof Kai Simons
Interviewed guest: Jill Douglas
Interviewed guest: James Grainger
Interviewed guest: Paul Schroeder 

Archive clips used: Dr Ludwig/YouTube channel, ‘Der heimliche Aufmarsch‘ 22/08/2021; British Pathe/YouTube channel, Soviets close off East Germany 1952 10/11/2020; British Pathe/YouTube channel, Berlin riots in 1953 13/04/2014; BBC ARCHIVE: rugby commentary, BBC Scotland TX 04/03/1995; M P YouTube channel, Jim Telfer’s tribute to Doddie Weir 26/11/2022; British and Irish Lions YouTube channel, Doddie’s ‘mistaken identity’ 04/07/2020; Lorraine YouTube channel, Doddie Weir interview 29/11/2018; Rugby Republic YouTube channel, Doddie honoured NZ rugby stadium this autumn 13/11/2022; lozleo/YouTube channel, Irene Cara performs on ‘The Original Amateur Hour’ in 1967 29/08/2011; BBC ARCHIVE: Pebble Mill, BBC Two TX 27/02/1996; PROFILES Featuring Mickey Burns channel, Profiles host Mickey Burns interviews Singer, Songwriter and Actress Irene Cara 14/01/2014; Al Jazeera/YouTube channel, Tribute to Hebe de Bonafine 22/11/2022; BBC ARCHIVE: International Assignment, Radio 4 TX 4/9/1981

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