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Hunger striker Nadiya Savchenko, the impact of disability and illness on relationships, women who built Waterloo Bridge

Ukrainian hunger striker Nadiya Savchenko, the impact of disability and chronic illness on relationships, the women labourers who built Waterloo Bridge and UKIP's women candidates.

Nadiya Savchenko, former Ukrainian military pilot, now Ukrainian MP and delegate to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has been held in custody in Russia over the killing of two Russian journalists since June 2014. On December 13th she started a hunger strike, and Russia has come under intense pressure to release her. Jane looks at how she has become a symbol of the conflict. What do you do if your partner becomes disabled or suddenly falls permanently ill? Grace Maxwell whose husband, musician Edwyn Collins suffered a serious brain haemorrhage and Professor John Kemp, who took early retirement to take care of his late wife Shirley describe their experiences. The next in our series about women parliamentary candidates, with UKIP's Suzanne Evans and candidates Sandra James and Rose Gibbins on why the party believes that positive discrimination does not help women. Parting company with your favourite footwear: Diane Clark describes her experience of donating a vintage pair of 1970's boots to the collection at Northampton Museums and Art Gallery. Women labourers who built Waterloo Bridge.
Presenter: Jane Garvey
Producer: Claire Bartleet.

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58 minutes

Chapters

  • Nadiya Savchenko

    Duration: 09:30

  • How does a relationship survive a life-changing disability or illness?

    Duration: 10:06

  • UKIP

    Duration: 10:36

  • Chelsea Cobbler

    Duration: 04:51

  • The Women Who Built Waterloo Bridge

    Duration: 06:24

Nadiya Savchenko

Nadiya Savchenko, former Ukrainian military pilot, now Ukrainian MP and delegate to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has been held in custody in Russia over the killing of two Russian journalists since June 2014. Kiev says she was illegally seized by Russian forces inside Ukraine and dragged across the border.  On December 13th she started a hunger strike, and Russia has come under intense pressure from the international community to release her.  She was one of the first Ukrainian women to train as an air force pilot and has become, for many, a symbol of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

How does a relationship survive a life-changing disability or illness?

One in five people in the UK has a disability. However, almost eighty per cent of them weren’t born disabled – they acquired their disabilities later in life. Most of those people are supported and cared for by a partner or a family member. So, what do you do if your partner of many years becomes disabled or suddenly falls permanently ill?  How do you cope with the fact that your loved one may never again be the same person you fell for?  Joining Jane is Grace Maxwell whose husband, musician Edwyn Collins suffered a serious brain hemorrhage and Professor John Kemp, who took early retirement to take care of his late wife Shirley. 

Chelsea Cobbler

The Shoe Collection at Northampton Museums and Art Gallery is currently asking people to send in treasured footwear with special memories. When Diane Clark donated a pair of 1970s boots made by The Chelsea cobbler she had no idea how delighted the museum would be as they fill a gap in the museums1970s footwear heritage. She met up with our reporter Tamsin Smith at the museum to explain why they these boots are so precious to her.

The Women Who Built Waterloo Bridge

London’s Waterloo Bridge has a rather unusual nickname – The Ladies Bridge. Tourist boats guides, who ferry sightseers up and down the Thames, use this name to honour the women who played a key role in its construction.  These female workers took over when Irish labourers went home at the outbreak of World War Two and local men were conscripted.

Now a campaign has been launched to celebrate the efforts of these women. Jane talks to historian Dr Christine Wall and campaigner Jen Lexmond to find out more about the women who built the bridge. 

UKIP

In the next in our series about women parliamentary candidates, we meet UKIP candidates Sandra James and Rose Gibbins and ask why the party believes that positive discrimination does not help women.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jane Garvey
Interviewed Guest Grace Maxwell
Interviewed Guest John Kemp
Interviewed Guest Diane Clark
Interviewed Guest Suzanne Evans
Interviewed Guest Sandra James
Interviewed Guest Rose Gibbins
Producer Claire Bartleet

Broadcast

  • Mon 23 Feb 2015 10:00

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