Matthew Bannister tells the life stories of people who have died recently. This week:Erica Powell OBE, Right Reverend Maurice Wood, Hank Medress and Suzy Barratt.
Erica Powell Private secretary who served Kwame Nkrumah (founding president of Ghana) has died aged 86.
Erica was born into a middle class family in Brighton. During the war she trained as a secretary and then as a teacher. After a romance with a Lincolnshire farmer failed she decided to travel to Ghana where a glamorous swimsuit gained her a job as secretary to the Governor General. It was in his outer office that she met Kwame Nkrumah who became the first President of an independent Ghana. She went on to become Nkrumah’s private secretary for ten years.
Matthew Bannister talks to her friend David Stables and to Kwame Nkrumah’s son Gamal Nkrumah.
Erica Powell was born on March 15th 1921. She died on June 5th 2007.
The Right Reverend Maurice Wood DSC
Bishop of Norwich who has died aged 90.
The Right Reverend Maurice Wood was an evangelical and outspoken Bishop of Norwich in the 1970s and eighties. He had a distinguished war record, opposed the ordination of women priests and was noted for his showmanship.He was also a member of the board of the Mary Whitehouse trust.
Matthew Bannister talks to the current Bishop of Norwich – the Right Reverend Graham James.
The Right Rev Maurice Wood was born on August 26th 1916. He died on June 24th2007.
Hank Medress Singer and record producer who has died aged 68.
Hank Medress was an influential figure in the American music scene of the 1960s and 70s. With his band The Tokens he scored an unlikely hit with a re-worked South African song which became “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”. As a producer he was behind a number of hits for the all-girl group The Chiffons, the Tony Orlando and Dawn song “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree”.
Matthew Bannister talks to former Token members Jay Siegel and Neil Sedaka .
Henry Medress wasborn November 19th1938. Hedied June 19th 2007.
Suzy Barratt
Actor and author who has died aged 43.
Parents looking desperately for an alternative to the television or the games console to entertain their children during the school holidays mayhave gratefully turned to the writings of Suzy Barratt. With her sister, the actress wrote two books of inventive games and pastimes under the title “I’m bored” – which lead to them being given a regular advice column in The Times. Suzy Barratt was born Susannah Hitching and brought up in Richmond in Surrey. After marrying the photographer Joss Barrett she retired from her successful stage and TV career to concentrate on bringing up her family.
Matthew Bannister talks to Suzy Barratt's sister,Polly Beard.
Suzy Barratt (formerly Susannah Hitching) was born on April 1st 1964. She died of cancer on June 8th 2007.
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