Main content

Minette Batters

Minette Batters, farmer and President of the National Farmers' Union, shares the soundtrack of her life with Lauren Laverne.

Minette Batters is the first woman to become President of the National Farmers' Union, representing 47,000 members. She was first elected to the post in 2018 for two years, and was re-elected in March 2020.

Minette runs a tenanted family farm in Wiltshire. The mixed farming business includes cattle, sheep and arable, as well as the conversion of a 17th century barn into a wedding and events venue.

Her father was a tenant farmer, and Minette adored helping him as a youngster, but the idea of taking on the farm herself seemed out of the question: her father strongly advised against it. Instead she took a Cordon Bleu course, graduated with distinction and ran her own catering business for 20 years. When her father retired, the lure of the land pulled her back and she took on the tenancy in 1998, despite the misgivings of many of her friends. Her campaigns on behalf of farmers include the initiatives Ladies in Beef and the Great British Beef Week. This year she has represented the views of NFU members during the Covid-19 crisis and the Brexit negotiations.

DISC ONE: Green Green Grass of 91热爆 by Tom Jones
DISC TWO: I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers
DISC THREE: Antonio Vivaldi: Spring From The Four Seasons: 1. Allegro by Nigel Kennedy (violin) and English Chamber Orchestra
DISC FOUR: Give A Little Bit by Supertramp
DISC FIVE: Silent Night by The Salisbury Cathedral Choir, conducted by David Halls
DISC SIX: Eye of the Tiger by Survivor
DISC SEVEN: The Wind Beneath My Wings by Bette Midler
DISC EIGHT: I Vow To Thee My Country by Katherine Jenkins

BOOK CHOICE: We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury
LUXURY ITEM: A loaf of bread
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Give A Little Bit by Supertramp

Presenter Lauren Laverne
Producer Sarah Taylor

Available now

37 minutes

Last on

Fri 18 Dec 2020 09:00

Music Played

  • Tom Jones

    Green Green Grass of 91热爆

    • The Hit Singles.
    • Decca Music Group Limited.
    • 6.
  • The Proclaimers

    I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)

    • Sunshine on Leith.
    • Chrysalis Records Limited.
    • 4.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Spring From The Four Seasons: 1. Allegro

    Performer: Nigel Kennedy. Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra.
    • Spring From Vivaldi's Four Seasons.
    • EMI.
    • 1.
  • Supertramp

    Give A Little Bit

    • The Very Best Of Supertramp.
    • Polydor Limited.
    • 13.
  • Salisbury Cathedral Choir

    Silent Night

    • Sing Choirs of Angels - A Thousand Voices Sing Traditional Carols.
    • Guild GmbH.
    • 13.
  • Survivor

    Eye Of The Tiger

    • Survivor: Greatest Hits.
    • Sony Music Entertainment UK Ltd.
    • 1.
  • Bette Midler

    The Wind Beneath My Wings

    • From A Distance.
    • Warner Music UK Limited.
    • 3.
  • Katherine Jenkins

    I Vow To Thee My Country

    • Living a Dream.
    • Universal Music Operations Ltd.
    • 2.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 13 Dec 2020 11:00
  • Fri 18 Dec 2020 09:00

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

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

Podcast