Radio 4 last word

[Catalogs]

I really love this show. However, recently they’ve started encouraging people to nominate “interesting people” so they can cover them.

This is results in things like this week’s being a pioneering model traction engine maker 🤔

RIP. Last word

Oh was it Cherry somebody? I read her Times obit recently and it was absolutely amazing and really inspirational. I think it is so offensive to dismiss her as just a "model traction engine maker" She was much more than that and a brilliant engineer who designed a wide range of machinery and for relaxation handmade tiny components for models.

People bewail low uptake of STEM subjects so it would be great if some school lessons were devoted to showing what a mere woman can achieve.

I like the mix on Last Word. One of my favourite people they featured was the lady who invented disposable nappies. Her daughter talked about how much she hated housework. Instead of ironing, she would lay dresses out under the carpet and wait until they had been walked on enough.

My kind of woman!

My dad was featured on Last Word. You probably wouldn't have heard of him but he had an interesting life in a niche field.

It's like Desert Island Discs. The biographies of people you don't know are interesting but sometimes it's those people you haven't heard of that fascinate.

I’m sorry for your loss x

Thank you.
It's a few years ago now.

Oh yes, I definitely don’t want it all to be celebrities, it’s a bit like Desert Island Discs as you say that the scientists and really niche people are very interesting

Nice to see “they should teach it in schools” making an appearance 🫠

Happy to oblige.

Yes I think schools should teach about women's achievements, especially in technical subjects traditionally dominated by men. A well written obituary is always of interest, whichever sex of course. I thought this was your theme?

Perhaps you have some useful comments too. I'm all ears.

This is results in things like this week’s being a pioneering model traction engine maker - ooh - I'd be interested in that!

don’t mind ‘unknowns’. I often don’t know the person even if they were apparently famous / notable, and still find their lives interesting. Precisely!

Agree about R2. The Organist Entertains and Listen to the Band went a while back and that was the end for me. Many years ago I developed my own black and white photographs. The darkroom could be a lonely place - I always had the radio on, and there were often light classics on R2. Never now.

Now this weeks is excellent although I wish the presenter would be a little bit little less obvious when he asks leading questions. Like did she have a house in France? Of course she bloody had a house in France you know she did.