Edward Heath

Desert Island Discs

BBC

Society & Culture, Music Commentary, Music, Personal Journals

4.4 • 13.7K Ratings

🗓️ 18 December 1988

⏱️ 38 minutes

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Summary

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is a man who has, at times, endured a different isolation from that imposed by the mythical island. But along with his frequently turbulent political career, he has also enjoyed the close companionship of his fellow crew members when captaining his yacht to resounding victories, as well as conducting some of the greatest orchestras in the world. Former Prime Minister the Rt Hon Edward Heath will be discussing his many achievements - political, nautical and musical - as well as his plans for the future in Desert Island Discs.

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

Favourite track: Prisoners' Chorus by Ludwig van Beethoven Book: Volume of the works of the Impressionist painters Luxury: Suntan lotion

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello I'm Kirsty Young and this is a podcast from the Desert Island Discs archive.
0:05.0	For rights reasons, we've had to shorten the music.
0:08.0	The program was originally broadcast in 1988 and the presenter was Sue Lawley. My cast away this week is a man who has tasted triumph and endured isolation.
0:36.0	The path to triumph began when as a young Conservative minister he was responsible for negotiating
0:41.2	Britain's entry into the common market.
0:43.8	It culminated when as Prime Minister he signed the treaty which made this country a member of
0:49.1	the European community.
0:51.2	The isolation began three years later when after defeat in two general elections he lost the leadership of his party.
0:58.0	He has never held political office since.
1:01.0	Greatly admired abroad but treated with a certain caution at home, his good
1:06.2	taste and wide interests have allowed him to enjoy many things, politics, music and a love of the sea.
1:14.0	He is of course the right honourable Edward Heath MP.
1:18.0	Mr Heath, which of those three things I wonder has brought you greatest pleasure?
1:22.0	Politics, music, all your love of the sea.
1:24.6	I think I'm fortunate in that they all have.
1:27.0	In fact, I think they've complimented each other.
1:29.4	You can't spend all your life on politics.
1:31.5	Those people who think the politics are the be all and end all of life, are greatly mistaken, and I think they suffer from it.
1:38.0	Do the three things, do you think, have anything in common, conducting orchestras, captainingaining crews and indeed cabinets.
1:45.0	Well, with an orchestra at least they're all trying to go the same way.
1:49.7	One hopes the crew is, but one's never sure about a cabinet.
1:53.0	Well I mentioned isolation in my introduction to you.
	...

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