Main content

Rt Hon Sir Menzies Campbell MP

Sue Lawley's castaway is politician Sir Menzies Campbell.

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the Liberal Democrat politician Sir Menzies Campbell. Born in Glasgow, he excelled at both academia and sports making it to the University in Glasgow and then Stanford in California where he studied law but all the while dividing his time between this and his other great love - athletics. He became the fastest man in Britain holding and re-breaking the record for the 100 metres between 1967 and 1974 and competed in the 1964 Olympic and 1966 Commonwealth games.

As a lawyer he was called to the Scottish Bar in 1968 and was made QC in 1982. His political career began 30 years ago when he stood for his first parliamentary seat in 1974, fighting three more elections before winning North East Fife in 1987. He quickly became a fast-rising star and is now Deputy Leader of the party and spokesman on Foreign Affairs. He was awarded a CBE in 1987, became a privy councillor in 1999 and was knighted earlier this year in the New Year's Honours list.

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

Favourite track: The Ride of the Valkyries by Richard Wagner
Book: Treasure Island & Kidnapped as one volume by Robert Louis Stevenson
Luxury: Set of golf clubs

Download

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 22 Oct 2004 09:00
BBC Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Anne Scott James

Next

Jack Mapanje

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

Music Played

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Richard Wagner

      Ride of the Valkyries (Die Walküre)

      Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Herbert von Kara

      • Passeport pour l'Opera.
      • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Dylan Thomas

    Under Milk Wood - BBC ARCHIVE

    Artist: Richard Burton

  • Vangelis

    Chariots of Fire

    • Portaits.
    • Polydor.

  • Bob Dylan

    Mr Tambourine Man

    • Bob Dylan: Greatest Hits.
    • Columbia.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Prisoners' Chorus (from Fidelio)

    Choir: Arnold Schoenberg Choir Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

    • Fidelio.
    • EMI.

  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Dies irae (from Requiem Mass)

    Orchestra: Kirov Orchestra Conductor: Valergy Gergiev

    • Verdi's Requiem.
    • Philips.

  • Korb/Koever

    Highland Cathedral

    Orchestra: Grendadier Guards & Gordon Highlanders

    • Grenadier Guards & Gordon Highlanders.
    • Bandleader.

  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Gunther Herbig

    • Death of Venice.
    • BBC.

  • Book Choice

    • Treasure Island & Kidnapped as one volume - Robert Louis Stevenson

  • Luxury Choice

    • Set of golf clubs

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Menzies Campbell

Broadcasts

  • Sun 17 Oct 2004 11:15
    BBC Radio 4
  • Fri 22 Oct 2004 09:00
    BBC Radio 4

Featured in...

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast