Manningham-Buller was a " castaway " on '' Desert Island Discs '' broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2007 giving her first interview after her retirement . She talked briefly about her personal life and her former professional life , including her reactions to the 7 July 2005 London bombings and the importance of protecting their agents . She explained that she had decided on her retirement date shortly after she took up the Director General job , choosing to retire with a total of 33 years ' service in the security services . She chose a book of poems by Ted Hughes and Seamus Heaney , entitled '' The Rattle Bag ''
7 July 2005 London bombings
7 July 2005 London bombings
Eliza Manningham-Buller