OBITUARIES

[Wendyf]

Ming Campbell, an old fashioned politician.

[Stanley]

I heard the news last night. Yes he was often ridiculed for being old fashioned but for that read reliable. He was also a record breaking Olympic sprinter in his youth......

[Julie in Norfolk]

Jane Goodall. Fascinating woman. Primatologist and anthropologist.

[Stanley]

Morning Julie.... I agree, I was reading about her life again yesterday. I hope her work with primates is taken forward by her colleagues.....

[Big Kev]

Actress Dame Patricia Routledge, known for playing Hyacinth Bucket in classic TV sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, has died at the age of 96, her agent has said.

[Cathy]

R I P Dame Patricia Routledge. A very accomplished Actress.
She died in her sleep.

[Stanley]

I loved her..... 96 is a good age!

[Cathy]

Prunella Scales aged 93
Sybil in Fawlty Towers. Loved watching Prunella and husband Timothy West (recently deceased) on their canal journeys.
RIP

[Stanley]

Ditto Cathy to Fawlty Towers and the canal programmes.... I liked everything she did.

[Tripps]

RIP.

I never found Fawlty Towers funny. What's funny about bullying a Spanish waiter. I'm surprised they still show it in these 'woke' days.

She was good in the film Outside Edge,

and as one of Hobson's younger daughters in "Hobson's Choice" (The Charles Laughton version).

[Stanley]

I'd forgotten that David, and it's one of my favourite oldies....

[Cathy]

Pauline Collins OBE Age 85
British Actress. Upstairs,Downstairs. Shirley Valentine ( Hello wall ).
RIP

[Whyperion]

presenter Quentin Willson
BBC
Aged 68 , Lung Cancer.

[Whyperion]

Couple of Days ago Gilson Lavis , drummer with Squeeze. The Jools Holland Big Band and The Jools Holland Rhythm and Blues Orchestra as well as playing for and with a multitude of musical artists over the past 35 odd years. Apparently also and artist of the painting variety - like a few other musicans
BBC

another person I have never met but by those two degrees of separation events I have a connection with , so missed

[Big Kev]

RIP reggae legend Jimmy Cliff, 81.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj4qdren425o

[Stanley]

I saw the news about Jimmy Cliff in the UK news..... Never heard of him, not my bag but he certainly left his mark!

[Stanley]

Jack Shepherd has died. Best known for playing Wycliffe in the detective series.

[Wendyf]

Jack Shepherd attended Roundhay School in Leeds. I was at Roundhay High, the girls School, a few years later.

[Stanley]

I liked him, a very honest actor I always thought.

[Tripps]

The "greatest English living playwright" (until yesterday) - Tom Stoppard has died.

I knew little of him but have just watched Rosencrantz and Guldenstern are dead to see what all the fuss was about. It is said to be a comedy, but I didn't laugh - in fact I had not the first clue what it was all about. Full disclosure - I don't know much about Hamlet, which seems to be a requirement to appreciate ths play. Many in the media have become rapturous about his work - but for me it's the emperor's new clothes. I can only use the 'thinking tackle I'm equipped with, and that tells me it's nonsense.

I'm prepared to accept that perhaps I'm not bright enough to understand it - and that many others are. I have a similar reaction to Samuel Becket and Alan Ayckbourn.

PS This obituary from the Times of |Israel tells all.

[Whyperion]

Billy Bonds MBE at age 79 Football Player for West Ham United for 21 years from May 1967 BBC joining from London club Charlton Athletic. After playing career finished he managed West Ham for seasons 1990 to 1994 taking the club back into the Premier League. As a player covered three positions and was team captain for many years gaining again promotion and FA Cup wins. One of three players getting a stand named after him , this one at the London Stadium in Stratford East London . One of the rare players with a large amount of appearances for effectively one club playing the "old" way of the game of body and brain but also never getting a game appearance for England - in part due to injury before one of the England campaigns. Given Englands win record at times maybe this was a mistake but there are only a limited number of team positions that can be filled. So the end of an era.

[Stanley]

David, thanks for writing what could have been my obituary for Tom Stoppard. I endorse everything you say. I have the same reaction to many 'great works of literature' recommended by my friends. I remember reading 'The Great Gatsby' and being totally bemused by the concept there was anything great about it. So thank you for the Stoppard obit and Hear Hear!

[Whyperion]

Chris Smith England Batsman 62 The BBC puts it better than me , and at a time of English Cricket crumbling Chris Smith English by Parentage came in as a strong player of pace bowling , but what possibly his undoing , less good at magical spin - in part as he didnt have much experience of such wickets supporting . Changes too in the team around him left him somewhat on his own.