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Mina Smallman, activist

Mina Smallman, activist, shares the eight tracks, book and luxury item she would take with her if cast away to a desert island. With Lauren Laverne.

Wilhelmina – Mina – Smallman is an activist who campaigns for the safety of women and girls and police reform. She is a former teacher and priest who was the first woman of colour to be an archdeacon in the Church of England.

In 2020 her daughters Bibaa and Nicole were murdered as they celebrated Bibaa’s 46th birthday in Fryent Country Park. It later came to light that two policemen, who were guarding the crime scene, had posed for and posted selfies with Bibaa and Nicole’s bodies in the background. They were later jailed for misconduct.

When friends first reported her daughters missing the police didn’t launch an official search for them and it was their loved ones who eventually found Bibaa and Nicole. Mina’s anger at the failings of the Metropolitan Police, led her to start her fight for justice. In 2021 an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) report, highlighted the Met’s failings and advised the force to apologise to Mina and her family.

Mina was brought up in London. She was a drama teacher for over 20 years before training for the priesthood. She was ordained in 2006 and took up her first job as vicar at Christ Church on the Thames View estate in Barking. In 2013 she was appointed the first woman archdeacon of Southend in the Diocese of Chelmsford. She retired as an archdeacon in 2016.

DISC ONE: Silly Games – Janet Kay
DISC TWO: Handel: Messiah, HWV 56 / Pt. 3 - 43. Air: I know that my Redeemer liveth
Performed by Dame Joan Sutherland (Soprano), London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Adrian Boult
DISC THREE: Easy Terms - Barbara Dickson
DISC FOUR: Amazing Grace - The Pipes And Drums Of The Military Band Of The Royal Scots Dragoon
DISC FIVE: We Are The World - USA for Africa
DISC SIX: Miss Independent - Ne-Yo
DISC SEVEN: Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick - Ian Dury and the Blockheads
DISC EIGHT: I Look To You - Whitney Houston

BOOK CHOICE: Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
LUXURY ITEM: Hair moisturiser
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: I Look To You - Whitney Houston

Presenter Lauren Laverne
Producer Paula McGinley

Available now

51 minutes

Last on

Today 09:00

Music Played

  • Janet Kay

    Silly Games

    • Trojan Classic Jamaican Sounds Since 1968.
    • Reggae Spot Music.
    • 17.
  • George Frideric Handel

    I Know That My Redeemer Liveth

    Conductor: Adrian Boult. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Singer: Joan Sutherland.
    • Handel: Messiah Arias & Choruses.
    • Decca Classics.
    • 11.
  • Barbara Dickson

    Easy Terms

    • Blood Brothers (Original London Cast Recording).
    • Castle Communications.
    • 5.
  • The Pipes And Drums Of The Military Band Of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards

    Amazing Grace

    • The Best Year Of My Life: 1972.
    • Sony Music Entertainment.
    • 20.
  • USA for Africa

    We Are the World

    • A&M.
  • Ne-Yo

    Miss Independent

    • Def Soul.
  • Ian Dury & the Blockheads

    Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick

    • Hit Me! The Best Of.
    • BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd.
    • 20.
  • Whitney Houston

    I Look To You

    • I Look To You.
    • Arista.
    • 1.

Broadcasts

  • Sunday 10:00
  • Today 09:00

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