Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
Aristocrat and Marchioness of Tavistock, who was dubbed 'the most beautiful girl in Britain' at sixteen and nursed her husband back from a severe stroke.
On the island
Eight records
Played repeatedly to Robin during his unconsciousness; his favourite piece that made him happy.
Nicolai Gedda and Ernest Blanc
The most haunting, beautiful duet.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Totally addicted to Michael Hordern reading C.S. Lewis; helps me cope.
IntermezzoFavourite
Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Riccardo Muti
Used as music for a PR video for the stallion Precocious.
From Dances with Wolves soundtrack; gives incredible feeling of space.
In conversation
Presenter asks
1:12Your husband was given a one per cent chance of survival. What made you so certain that he would live?
I just from the moment I saw him when I got back to London that night … He had such a look of peace on his face. And there didn't seem to be any distress, and I didn't feel from the moment I'd seen him that he was going to die.
Presenter asks
2:25You've written that it's only since your husband's stroke that for the first time in your life you felt useful and needed. Do you mean that literally?
I felt needed in a superficial way, perhaps, but I've since Robin's been ill, I have felt certainly useful for the first time. And much more needed. Yes, I think that is probably true.
Presenter asks
5:28You deeply resented having to take over running Woburn when you were in your early thirties, didn't you?
Yes, I realized I behaved very badly about the whole thing … I had said to Robin that I really didn't feel that I ever wanted to live in a big house like Robin.
The keepsakes
The book
A History of the English-Speaking Peoples
Winston Churchill
because I'm very historically uneducated. and so hopefully I will learn something on my desert island. And I think reading Churchill is. Really, the best way to read the English language.
The luxury
if I have a pillow, I can cope with anything. So if I sleep well, I'll cope with my days very well.
Presenter asks
9:47Were you very spoilt as a child?
Oh, I think I was very spoilt … I enjoyed enormously being an only child … because being an only child was so wonderful.
Presenter asks
14:21You almost refused to go on honeymoon, didn't you? What were you frightened of?
Well, I was a spoiled brat. I was frightened … There was quite a lot of antagonism towards our getting married from his family … I can remember saying to my father as we drove to the wedding … I asked him if he loved me, and he said, Of course I know I love you, darling I said, Well, if you love me, you can prove it to me by asking this car to go anywhere but to the church.
Presenter asks
29:10Would you go as far as to say that you don't entirely regret that your husband had a stroke, because it has made him more relaxed and appreciative of life, and you more fulfilled?
I would feel awful saying I don't regret he had a stroke if it wasn't for the fact that he tells everybody, thank God I had a stroke, otherwise I'd have missed the best part of my life. I think he is much happier, but it still seems very cruel that he had to go through what he went through. But, yes. It happened, and we're very lucky that we've got to where we are, and he made such a fantastic recovery.
“I just from the moment I saw him when I got back to London that night … He had such a look of peace on his face. And there didn't seem to be any distress, and I didn't feel from the moment I'd seen him that he was going to die.”
“I felt needed in a superficial way, perhaps, but I've since Robin's been ill, I have felt certainly useful for the first time.”
“I remember walking in to the room, sitting down beside him, peeling the banana and handing it to him … and he took one bite. And he pulled the most appalling expression and he flung it across the room. And I was so happy. And it shows that really I'm quite mad, because to me that meant he was perfectly all right.”
“He enjoys every moment. I mean, even in the morning when he draws the curtains and it's pouring with rain, he says, Oh, isn't that lovely? We need the rain. So badly, everything is a joy.”
“I would feel awful saying I don't regret he had a stroke if it wasn't for the fact that he tells everybody, thank God I had a stroke, otherwise I'd have missed the best part of my life.”