BBC Sounds Music Radio Podcasts

Lauren Le Vernier, we're taking our Easter break, so until we're back on air, we're showcasing

a few programs from our archive, as usual the music's been shortened for rights reasons.

This week's guest is Betty Boothroyd, who started out as a dancer, and later became the

first female speaker of the House of Commons.

She died in February this year at the age of 93.

Sue Lawley cast her away in 1994.

Music Radio Music

My castaway this week is a politician.

She was born in Yorkshire, the only child of parents, who, though sometimes short of money,

never stinted on their devotion to their daughter.

At 17 she went south to join a dance troupe and made a fleeting appearance as a tiller girl.

Eventually however she settled down as an MP secretary, and since then Parliament has

been her life.

She became an MP herself in 1973, a triumph, she says of stamina, faith, hope and bloody

mindedness.

And last year she made history when she was elected speaker of the House of Commons, the

first woman to hold the office and the first since 1835 to be elected from the opposition

benches.

She is of course Betty Boothroyd.

Were you Chris and Betty?

Betty?

...