Someone in Particular - Sir John Martin

Sir John Martin reminisces about his life and career, accompanied by his selection of music. He begins with his early life in Perthshire and at Oxford, from where he witnessed the General Strike. Sir John served as Winston Churchill's private secretary, a post he recalls being appointed to via an unusual selection process.

In various roles within the Civil Service, Sir John encountered at first hand the problems of Palestine and the issues surrounding the UK handing control over to its former colonies. He discusses his personal experience of these situations at length. Sir John Martin believed that "colonial rule was one of the best British gifts to the world" and his view of the British Empire as a force for good never changed, even though he was closely involved in dismantling it.

Originally broadcast 11 November 1973.