Peter Mansfield

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the Nobel prize-winning physicist Sir Peter Mansfield. His work in magnetic resonance imaging more than 30 years ago led to the development of the MRI scanner, which has revolutionised the diagnosis of illness today.

He was born in London before the Second World War and as a boy, remembers the first Doodlebug attack on the capital. Watching the flying bombs gave him an interest in rocket propulsion which was to lead to a life-long career in science. The son of a gas-fitter, he left school without O levels at the age of 15. His school careers' officer had laughed at his ambition to be a scientist and fixed him up with a job as a printer. He put himself through night school, and went on to graduate with a first class degree in physics.

The first MRI scan was performed using him as the guinea-pig and with next-of-kin on hand because of the risks involved. His pioneering research was carried out at the University of Nottingham where he became Emeritus Professor of Physics. In 2003 he was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine at the age of 70.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Choices

1.

Gustav Holst

Jupiter (from The Planets)

Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Richard Cooke

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2.

Charles Trenet

La Mer

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3.

Sir William Walton

Coronation March

Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Sir Adrian Boult

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4.

Heino

Vom Barrette Schwankt die Feder

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5.

Castaway's favourite

Bedrich Smetana

Vltava (The Moldau) (from Má vlast)

Orchestra: Detroit Symphony Orchestra Conductor: Neeme Järvi

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6.

Henry Purcell

Abdelazar

Orchestra: The Purcell Quartet

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7.

Perry Como

Magic Moments

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8.

Sir Edward Elgar

Enigma Variations - Nimrod

Orchestra: The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle

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Book

Family photograph albums by

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Luxury item

Helicopter

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