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Mel Parry, Professor Alice Coleman, Hugh Callaghan, Cynthia Weil

Matthew Bannister on SAS veteran Mel Parry, geographer Professor Alice Coleman, labourer Hugh Callaghan and songwriter Cynthia Weil.

Matthew Bannister on

Mel Parry, the SAS veteran who was part of the team that stormed the Iranian embassy in London in 1980.

Professor Alice Coleman, the geographer whose modifications to modernist high rise estates won the support of Margaret Thatcher.

Hugh Callaghan, the labourer who was one of six men arrested after the Birmingham pub bombings of 1974. He served 16 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.

Cynthia Weil, the American songwriter behind hits like The Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling”, The Animals’ “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place” and Dolly Parton’s “Here You Come Again”.

Interviewee: Bob Shepherd
Interviewee: Jo Kendall
Interviewee: Professor Loretta Lees
Interviewee: Chris Mullin

Producer: Gareth Nelson-Davies

Archive used:
Iranian Embassy Siege, News bulletin, ±«Óătv Radio 4, 30/04/1980; Iranian Embassy Siege, Reports and interviews, ±«Óătv Radio 4, 01/05/1980; Iranian Embassy Siege, Reports and interviews, ±«Óătv Radio 4, 03/05/1980; Iranian Embassy Siege in London, News report, ±«Óătv Radio 4, 05/05/1980; Cynthia Weil interview: writing songs for male performers, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, YouTube uploaded 14/03/2016; Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann interview, Sunday Morning, CBS, 08/02/2015; Alice Coleman interview, The Friday Report: A Design for Living, ±«Óătv Two, 05/02/1988; 1974 Birmingham Pub Bombings report, ±«Óătv News, 15/08/1975; Birmingham bombings, 21 Dead And 182 Injured In Birmingham, RTE News Archive, 21/11/1974; Hugh Callaghan interview, World In Action, Granada Television, 18/03/1991; Hugh Callaghan interview, ±«Óătv Radio Ulster, 08/12/1996; Birmingham Six freed, News reports, ±«Óătv Newsnight, 11/03/1991; Hugh Callaghan singing, Songs of Love and Emigration: Two, The Irish Pensioners Choir, 2023;

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28 minutes

Last on

Sun 11 Jun 2023 20:30
±«Óătv Radio 4

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Mel Parry

the SAS veteran who was part of the team that stormed the Iranian embassy in London in 1980.

Last Word spoke to SAS veteran Bob Shepherd. 

Cynthia Weil

the American songwriter behind hits like The Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling”, The Animals’ “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place” and Dolly Parton’s “Here You Come Again”.
Last Word spoke to music journalist and lecturer Jo Kendall.

Born 18 October 1940; died 1 June 2023 , aged 82

Professor Alice Coleman

The geographer whose modifications to modernist high rise estates won the support of Margaret Thatcher.

Last Word spoke to Professor Loretta Lees, urban geographer, and current Director of the Initiative on Cities at Boston University, USA.

Born 8 June 1923; died 2 May 2023, aged 99 

Hugh Callaghan

The labourer who was one of six men arrested after the Birmingham pub bombings of 1974. He served 16 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.
Last Word spoke to the former Labour MP and journalist Chris Mullin.

Born 24 March 1930; died 27 May 2023, age 93

Broadcasts

  • Fri 9 Jun 2023 16:00
    ±«Óătv Radio 4
  • Sun 11 Jun 2023 20:30
    ±«Óătv Radio 4

Podcast

  • Last Word

    Radio 4's weekly obituary programme