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A screenwriter, a champagne maker, a learning disabilities campaigner, a president, a Welsh poet and a music producer

Matthew Bannister on novelist and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, champagne maker Henri Krug, learning disabilities campaigner Mabel Cooper, and Liberian president Moses Blah.

Matthew Bannister on:

The novelist and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, who won the Booker prize for Heat and Dust - and Oscars for two of her Merchant Ivory scripts. James Ivory pays tribute.

Henri Krug who led the blending process that made his family's acclaimed champagne.

Mabel Cooper - who spent the first thirty years of her life in institutions, but later became a campaigner for the rights of people with learning disabilities.

The Liberian politician Moses Blah - vice President under Charles Taylor - and briefly President himself in the handover to a transitional government.

And Anthony Conran the Welsh poet who was born with cerebral palsy.

Available now

28 minutes

Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

Last Word spoke to her friend Catherine Freeman and to James Ivory of Merchant Ivory Productions.

Born 7 May 1927; died 3 April 2013 aged 85.

Henri Krug

Last Word spoke to the champagne expert Michael Edwards.

Born 19 July 1937; died 7 March 2013 aged 75.

Mabel Cooper

Matthew spoke to Dorothy Atkinson, senior lecturer in the Department of Health and Social Care and to Jane Abraham who was Mabel鈥檚 friend and advocate.

Born 10 August 1944; died 22 March 2013 aged 68.

Anthony Conran

Last Word spoke to fellow Welsh poet Menna Elfyn.

Born 7 April 1931; died 14 January 2013 aged 81.

Moses Blah

Matthew spoke to Liberian journalist Jonathan Paye-Layleh.

Born 18 April 1947; died 1 April 2013 aged 65.

Phil Ramone

Born 5 January 1934; died 30 March 2013 aged 78.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Matthew Bannister
Producer Laura Northedge

Broadcasts

  • Fri 5 Apr 2013 16:00
  • Sun 7 Apr 2013 20:30

Podcast