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Rt Hon Lord Sainsbury

Sue Lawley's castaway is businessman and politician David Sainsbury.

This week Sue Lawley's castaway is David Sainsbury, now Lord Sainsbury of Turville.

David Sainsbury who is a grocer and a politician is also one of Britain's richest men and was a multi-millionaire by the time he was in his 20s. However, he says that along with his wealth he has inherited a strong sense of duty. He was the fourth generation of the family to take over the business and became only its sixth chairman in more than 120 years. Although his career at Sainsbury's spanned more than 30 years, he has combined it with following his passion for politics. In the 1980s he bankrolled the Social Democratic Party, and at the time there was talk of him being a future secretary of state for trade in David Owen's cabinet. But, when the SDP imploded in the late 1980s he was disillusioned, and his interest wasn't rekindled until Tony Blair became leader of the Labour Party. After the Labour election win in 1997 he was made a lord, and shortly afterwards became a science minister.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Finale of Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Book: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Luxury: Large bath with a constant supply of hot water

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 6 Feb 2004 09:00

Music Played

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Der Vogelf盲nger bin ich ja (from The Magic Flute)

    Soloist: Erich Kunz Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

    • Magic Flute.
    • Gemstone.
  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Gi脿 nella notte densa (love duet) (from Otello)

    Soloist: Ramon Vinay & Herva Nelli Orchestra: The NBC Symphony Orchestra

    • Otello.
    • Urania.
  • Kurt Weill

    Ballad of Mack the Knife (from The Threepenny Opera)

    Soloist: Lotte Lenya with Turk Murphy

    • American Theatre Songs.
    • Sony Classical.
  • Vangelis

    Chariots of Fire

    • Chariots of Fire.
    • Polydor.
  • Toots & The Maytals

    Sweet and Dandy

    • Do the Reggae 1966-70.
    • Attack.
  • John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band

    Imagine

    • Imagine.
    • Parlophone.
  • Gabriel Faur茅

    Pie Jesu (from Requiem)

    Soloist: Marie Mclaughlin Orchestra: The City of London Sinfonia Conductor: Harry Christophers - PRIVATE TAPE

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      The Marriage of Figaro Finale

      Soloist: Thomas Allen & Kiri Te Kanawa Orchestra: The London Philharmonic Orchestra

      • Le Nozze di Figaro.
      • Decca.
  • Book Choice

    • The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

  • Luxury Choice

    • Large bath with a constant supply of hot water

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Rt Hon Lord Sainsbury

Broadcasts

  • Sun 1 Feb 2004 11:15
  • Fri 6 Feb 2004 09:00

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