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John Nichol, writer, former RAF Navigator

Michael Berkeley's guest is the writer and former Royal Air Force navigator, John Nichol.

Thirty-five years ago, during the Gulf War, the face of the RAF navigator John Nichol appeared on news bulletins around the world. His Tornado jet had been shot down over Iraq, and he was captured, tortured and paraded on Iraqi television.

Together with the pilot John Peters, he wrote about these experiences in their best-selling book Tornado Down. Since then, he's written many more books about military history, on topics ranging from the Spitfire to the Unknown Warrior. His most recent book, Blitz, focuses on the effects of German bombing, not just on London, but in Glasgow, Cardiff, Manchester and his native north east.

John's music includes Chopin, Aaron Copland, Arthur Sullivan and Elgar.

16 days left to listen

1 hour, 26 minutes

Last on

Sun 28 Jun 202612:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Edward Elgar

    Enigma Variations, Op 36 (Variation 9, 'Nimrod')

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • Simon Rattle on EMI Classics.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 4.

  • Aaron Copland

    Fanfare for the Common Man

    Orchestra: San Francisco Symphony. Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas.
    • The Copland Collection.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 1.

  • Gian Piero Reverberi

    La Serenissima

    Composer: Franco Giordano. Ensemble: Rondò Veneziano.
    • The Very Best Of.
    • RCA Camden.
    • 1.

  • Richard Wagner

    The Ride of the Valkyries (Die Walkure)

    Orchestra: Orchestre de Paris – Philharmonie. Conductor: Daniel Barenboim.
    • Wagner: The Ring: Daniel BarenBoim, Orchestre de Paris.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 1.

  • Arthur Sullivan

    Overture in C "In memoriam"

    Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Owain Arwel Hughes.
    • Sullivan: Irish Symphony, Imperial March, Victoria and Merrie England & In Memor.
    • CPO.
    • 401.

  • Gary Kemp

    Through the Barricades

    Ensemble: Spandau Ballet.
    • 40 Years - The Greatest Hits.
    • Rhino.
    • 7.

  • Eric Coates

    March: The Dam Busters

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • Eric Coates – Orchestral Works, Vol. 3.
    • Chandos.
    • 16.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Piano Sonata No 2 in B flat minor, Op 35 (3rd mvt, 'Marche funèbre')

    Performer: Yuja Wang.
    • 111 Years Of Deutsche Grammophon The Collector's Edition Vol.2.
    • Deutshe Grammophon.
    • 3.

  • Gustav Holst

    Jupiter, Bringer of Jollity (The Planets)

    Orchestra: Hallé. Conductor: Mark Elder.
    • Gutav Holst -The Planets, Colin Matthews - Pluto.
    • HELIOS.
    • 4.

  • Uli Roever

    Highland Cathedral

    Composer: Michael Korb. Ensemble: The Pipes and Drums and the Band of the Royal Corps of Signals.
    • Marching and Piping.
    • Silva Screen Records Ltd.
    • 7.

Broadcast

  • Sun 28 Jun 202612:00
    BBC Radio 3

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