This weekly feature gives us a little insight into The Abbey staff, and our next Desert Island Disc ‘castaway’ is Joanne Wenman, Senior School Librarian.

Music

Forever Young – Bob Dylan 
My mother’s favourite song and it reminds me of when mum and I went to see Dylan in concert in 2002

Joanne – Lady Gaga 
Beautiful track, which obviously features my name so if I was lonely on a desert island, I would feel as if someone was talking to me! I am also a fan of Lady Gaga as I think she is incredibly talented and versatile

I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor 
For obvious reasons I think this song might keep me going

Happy – Pharrell Williams 
For the same reasons as no.3 above but also reminds me of when I lived in Dubai; the children in my school liked this song and played it quite a bit at the time of its release

Sitting on the Dock of a Bay – Otis Redding 
Maybe if he was happy looking at water all day, there’s hope for me

The Whole of the Moon – The Waterboys 
One of my favourite tracks ever. which reminds me of my student days and when I saw The Waterboys in concert. It also has a profound message about what it means to be happy

Bitter Sweet Symphony – The Verve 
Another favourite song – uplifting instrumental but with depressing lyrics, which I listened to a lot in the late 1990s

Let It Be – The Beatles
This is a great song by the fab four with a really important message attached to it about accepting what we cannot change and having the strength to carry on

Piano Concerto no.5 op.73 ‘The Emperor’ – Beethoven 
My favourite piece of classical music which has appeared in the soundtrack of a couple of films I have enjoyed: Picnic at Hanging Rock and Dead Poets’ Society

Book 
How to Survive on a Deserted Island – Tim O’Shea or Tolstoy’s War and Peace (to keep me busy)

Luxury Item
Sun protection cream or vast supply of coffee