Matthew Bannister on

Howard Pendleton who made the Marquee Club a launch pad for scores of rock stars including the Rolling Stones, the Who and David Bowie and started the Reading Festival.

Glenn Barr, the Unionist leader who brought Northern Ireland to its knees for thirteen days.

Iona Opie who devoted her life to collecting nursery rhymes and studying children's use of stories and language.

Gary Flather QC, the eminent lawyer who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and campaigned to make the legal profession more accessible for disabled people.

And Sir John Manduell who founded and led the Royal Northern College of Music, building its international reputation.