Simon Woolley, crossbench peer
Lord Simon Woolley, crossbench peer, shares the eight tracks, book and luxury item he would take with him if cast away to a desert island. With Lauren Laverne.
Simon Woolley, Lord Woolley of Woodford, is principal of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖrton College at Cambridge University. He is the first black man to head an Oxbridge college. He is a co-founder of Operation Black Vote, which campaigns for greater inclusivity in politics, and became a crossbench peer in 2019.
Simon spent his early years in an orphanage in Leicester before being fostered and then adopted by a white couple who also adopted his brother Mick. He left school at 16 to work as a car mechanic and then moved to London where he embarked on a successful career in sales. In 1988 he completed a one year access course which provided the pathway to university and a degree in English and Spanish.
In 1996 Simon was one of the co-founders of Operation Black Vote, a non-partisan organisation which encourages voter registration and community engagement, aiming to give a voice to all sections of society.
He was awarded a knighthood for services to race equality in 2019 and took up his current role as principal of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖrton College in 2021.
DISC ONE: I Want You Back - The Jackson 5
DISC TWO: Green Green Grass of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ - Tom Jones
DISC THREE: Manhattan - Ella Fitzgerald
DISC FOUR: Titanium (Morten Future Rave Mix) - David Guetta (feat Sia)
DISC FIVE: Hagamos Lo Que Diga El Corazón - Grupo Niche
DISC SIX: Dreamland – Composed and performed by Alexis Ffrench and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by James Morgan
DISC SEVEN: Cowboy bebop tank! - Niyari
DISC EIGHT: For Once in My Life - Stevie Wonder
BOOK CHOICE: Football in Sun and Shadow by Eduardo Galeano
LUXURY ITEM: A razor blade
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: For Once in My Life - Stevie Wonder
Presenter Lauren Laverne
Producer Paula McGinley
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Music Played
-
The Jacksons
I Want You Back
- Jackson 5 Greatest Hits.
- Tamla Motown.
- 1.
-
Tom Jones
Green Green Grass of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ
- Things That Matter Most To Me.
- Special Products.
- 10.
-
Ella Fitzgerald
Manhattan
- Essential Ella.
- Verve Reissues.
- 1.
-
David Guetta
Titanium (Morten Future Rave Mix) (feat. Sia)
- Rhino.
-
Grupo Niche
Hagamos Lo Que Diga El Corazón
- The Best.
- Sony Tropical.
- 2.
-
Alexis Ffrench, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, James Morgan
Dreamland
- Dreamland.
- Sony Classical.
- 1.
-
Niyari
Cowboy bebop Tank!
-
Stevie Wonder
For Once In My Life
- The Definitive Collection.
- UNI/MOTOWN.
- 1.
Broadcasts
- Sun 23 Jul 2023 11:15³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4 FM
- Fri 28 Jul 2023 09:00³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4
Listen to over 2,000 programmes
Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.
Articles
Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.
Podcast
-
Desert Island Discs
Castaway guests share the soundtrack of their lives.