Today marks the 70th anniversary of the world’s second longest running radio show, invented by a former pupil of King’s College School, Wimbledon.

Exceeded only by the “Grand Ole Opry” in America, BBC Radio 4’s “Desert Island Discs”, brain-child of broadcaster Roy Plomley (1914-85), was first recorded on 27 January 1942 and aired two days later.

Nearly 2900 programmes in the series have been heard since then of which Plomley presented the first 1784 himself over 43 years.

He left Wimbledon after his school days but the link remains to this day as when he died he was buried in Putney Vale Cemetery beside Wimbledon Common.

The son of a pharmacist, after King’s he worked for an estate agent, an advertising agency, a publisher and as an actor before joining a commercial radio station in France as an announcer in 1936.

Escaping the Germans in 1940, he returned to England and in 1941 wrote to the BBC with the idea for a weekly programme in which a well known guest was asked which eight records they would like with them if cast away on a desert island.

The first castaway ever was Vic Oliver, a Viennese comedian, actor and musician who also happened to be the son-in-law of Winston Churchill.

His first choice was a piece by Chopin. “Desert Island Discs” proved an immediate success thanks to Plomley’s own skill as an interviewer and meticulous research on each interviewee beforehand. A few months later he himself became the castaway for one show, interviewed by the head of popular programmes.

Eventually, each guest was also asked to choose one book and one luxury item for the island but as everyone requested either the Bible or Shakespeare’s plays these were assumed to be awaiting them on their arrival and another work had to be named.

Over 43 years Plomley interviewees included among others 842 stage, screen or radio stars, 469 musicians, 367 writers, 117 sports champions, 75 art or fashion designers, 66 politicians or public servants, 60 academics, and four royals, including Princess Margaret and Princess Grace of Monaco.

He continued to present the programme until his death in 1985 and was then succeeded by Michael Parkinson until 1988, Sue Lawley until 2006 and now Kirsty Young.

Roy Plomley’s Putney Vale grave is a simple one but carries the words: "He was a joyous man".

The Wimbledon Society is working with the Wimbledon Guardian to ensure that you, the readers, can share the fascinating discoveries that continue to emerge about our local heritage.

For more information, visit wimbledonsociety.org.uk and www.wimbledonmuseum.org.uk.

Click here for more fascinating articles about Wimbledon's heritage