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Last broadcast on Sun, 12 Apr 2009, 20:30 on BBC Radio 4 (see all broadcasts).
Synopsis
John Wilson presents the obituary series, analysing and celebrating the life stories of people who have recently died. The programme reflects on people of distinction and interest from many walks of life, some famous and some less well known.
Sir Neil MacCormick
Scottish nationalist politician and legal philosopher who has died aged 67.
Sir Neil MacCormick was, for most of his life, the intellectual driving force behind the Scottish National Party, a party founded by his own father John McCormick in 1934. He was Regius Professor of Public Law at Edinburgh University, a post he held for 36 years. He stood as an MEP in 1999, representing the SNP in Europe for five years.
John Wilson talks to the First Minister of Scotland, Rt Hon. Alex Salmond and Rt Hon. Sir Menzies Campbell.
Sir Neil MacCormick was born 27 May 1941 and died 5 April 2009.
Coy Watson Jr
Child actor of silent films also known as ‘The Keystone Kid’ who has died aged 96.
Coy Watson Jnr was a real film star, one who’d been in 60 films by the time he was just 18 years old. A prolific actor from the silent era, he was one of six Watson kids who, growing up near the Keystone movie studio in Los Angeles, were hired for work in slapstick comedies in the 1920’s. Coy effectively retired from the film industry with the arrival of the talkies, but went on to forge a successful career as a news photographer.
John Wilson talks to Coy Watson Jnr’s daughter Pattie Watson Price.
Coy Watson Jr was born 16 November 1912 and died 14 March 2009.
Patrick Kinna
Confidential secretary to Winston Churchill who has died aged 95.
Having studied shorthand and typing after leaving school, Patrick Kinna worked as a bank clerk before joining the army. With war looming, he was posted to France and became private secretary to the Duke of Windsor, a post he held for a year. His work for the future king recommended him to Downing Street and throughout the second world war Patrick Kinna was never far from Winston Churchill, seeing a very private picture of the great leader.
John Wilson talks to Phil Reed and Hugh Lunghi.
Patrick Kinna was born 5 September 1913 and died 14 March 2009.
Janet Jagan
Former President of Guyana who has died aged 88.
Janet Jagan was born into a Jewish American family in Chicago. She met and married Cheddi Jagan and moved with him to his homeland of Guyana in 1943. There, she helped form the People’s Progressive Party, a socialist movement opposed to British colonial rule. She became President in December 1997, becoming the only the second female leader of a South American country, after Isabel Peron of Argentina. Janet Jagan was in power for less than two years, but she’d dedicated most of her life to politics in her adoptive country, as well as being a prolific writer.
John Wilson talks to Janet Jagan’s friend and editor Professor David Dabydeen.
Janet Jagan was born 20 October 1920 died 28 March 2009.
Bob Scott
Ornithologist who has died aged 70.
There are at least five species which owe their place in the family of British birds to ornithologist Bob Scott. He was one of founding fathers of a network of bird reserves set up by the RSPB in the 1960s. He was an expert at spotting rare visitors to British shores and became a familiar face on television.
John Wilson talks to Bob Scott’s longtime friend and RSPB colleague Mike Everett.
Bob Scott was born 11 May 1938 and died 26 March 2009.
Broadcasts
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Fri 10 Apr 200916:00
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Sun 12 Apr 200920:30
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