Broadcaster and author Iszi Lawrence chooses the aviator Diana Barnato Walker. Coming from a privileged background, Diana used her pocket money to take flying lessons, flew bombers during World War II, and - aged 45 - became the first British woman to break the sound barrier. Iszi is joined by Giles Whittell, author of Spitfire Women of World War II, and Diana’s son Barney Walker.
Presented by Matthew Parris Produced in Bristol by Beth Sagar-Fenton
Tim Smit on Humphrey Jennings
Russell Kane on Evelyn Waugh
Samira Ahmed on Laura Ingalls Wilder
Christina Lamb on Benazir Bhutto
Helen Glover on Alison Hargreaves
Mark Carwardine on Douglas Adams
Cherie Blair on Dame Rose Heilbron
Greg Jenner on Gene Kelly
Patricia Greene on Bess of Hardwick
Simon Evans on JS Mill
Erica Wagner on Roald Amundsen
Hanif Kureishi on David Bowie
Barbara Stocking on Catherine the Great
Suzy Klein on Hedy Lamarr
Mica Paris on Josephine Baker
Simon Callow on Orson Welles
Ayesha Hazarika on Jayaben Desai
Tej Lalvani on Richard Feynman
Laura Serrant on Audre Lorde
Adrian Utley of Portishead on Miles Davis
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Modern West
Global News Podcast
Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4
The Infinite Monkey Cage
You’re Dead to Me
Elis James and John Robins