OBITUARIES

[Nolic]

RIP Frank Finley. Actor. Nolic

[Tizer]

This is more like a delayed obituary, over 30 years late, but an interesting man...
`The real-life wars of Dad's Army actor Arnold Ridley' Arnold Ridley
I note they say he was the great-uncle of Star Wars actress Daisy Ridley. Was Daisy the name given to one of Godfrey's two sisters in Dad's Army? "I'm sure Daisy could make some ham sandwiches for us to take on our manoeuvres, Captain Mannering".

[Wendyf]

Sad to hear of the death of Margaret Forster, one of my favourite authors.

[Stanley]

Umberto Eco (Name of the Rose. Foucault's Pendulum etc) has died aged 84.

[Cathy]

Harper Lee aged 89yrs.
Author
To kill a Mockingbird.
RIP

[Stanley]

Captain Eric 'Winkle' Brown has died. See this OBITUARY for details of his extraordinary career.

[Tizer]

That obituary briefly mentions trials of a rubber deck for aircraft carriers but doesn't give details. The Fleet Air Arm wanted to try flying aircraft without undercarriage because it would leave more room for fuel in the wings and there would be less drag. The aircraft could be catapulted off the carrier but how would they land without undercarriage? Even if they could slide on skids it would result in broken propeller blades. The idea was resurrected when they got the first jet planes - no prop blades to get in the way. The carrier HMS Warrior was fitted with a flexible `rubber deck' to take the impact and the tests would involve landing a Sea Vampire with the undercarriage retracted. Winkle Brown took it in his stride and landed the Vampire but the project was aborted because aircraft became heavier...and they had to admit that an average pilot might not be able to emulate Winkle Brown!

His Wikipedia page is worth a read too: Winkle

[Stanley]

An exceptional man!

[Stanley]

One of my favourite Hollywood actors, George Kennedy, has died aged 91. Remember the chain gang in Cool Hand Luke? (LINK)

[Karenh]

In response to the question about the relationship between Eric Parsons and Billy Parsons, yes they were brothers. We sadly lost both Uncle Eric (90) and Auntie Daphne earlier this year. Unfortunately we also lost my grandad "Billy" this morning after a short illness. He was the grand old age of 93 and was always really well until recently. He has left behind three children Joan (my mum), Sheila and John (John farms up Brogden Lane). He also leaves 9 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. We will miss him dreadfully as will anyone who new him - he was an amazing person with a fantastic sense of humour. If anyone would like to attend the funeral we haven't decided a date as yet but it will definitely be at Bracewell Church and I will post the date as soon as I know it. Thank you Stanley for the kind references to him on this site and we love the photo of him at his favourite place - the park!!

[Stanley]

Karen, thanks for letting us know. I am so sorry to hear Billy is dead. I have many happy memories of him and the Wild Bunch up on Letcliffe. We even got the form at the head of the slope lengthened so that we could all sit down together. Be sure to let us know about the date, I shall be there.



The Wild bunch posing incognito up at Letcliffe. Billy is on the left......

[Marilyn]

Sorry to hear about your Grandad, Karen.
Can you tell me when Daphne died, and where she and Eric may be buried?

[Stanley]

I've had some very good responses to the obit I wrote yesterday. Nice!

[Stanley]

My obit for Billy will be published in this week's BET. The reporter from the paper wants to contact Karen. I have emailed her a heads up.

[Stanley]

Breaking news that George Martin, the man who did so much to ensure the success of the Beatles, has died aged 90.
LINK

[Cathy]

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Oh I am so sad about George Martin dying. I didn't realise he was 90yrs old either.
He was a lovely man and a genius who will be sadly missed.
His talent, generosity and input was immense.
RIP George Martin God Bless

[Stanley]

I didn't know until I read the obit how wide ranging his musical activities were.

[Cathy]

I'm sorry but is that it for Sir George Martin from you lot... Seriously!!!!
Very disappointing.

[Nolic]

Cazza, don't forget you're a bit ahead of us. Sir George Martin's passing, but what a sad loss to the country. I know of course he was 90 years old, but I can't help feeling there is now something great missing from the world! Simply put, music (The good stuff that is!) would not be the same today, had it not been for the genius that was George Martin. Nolic

[Cathy]

Thankyou Nolic, thankyou

[Bruff]

I would also note that George Martin produced Terry Scott’s ‘My Brother’, which was just about the funniest thing I could ever hear when it popped up every week on Ed ‘Stewpot’ Stewart’s Family Favourites of a Sunday morning all them years back.

Many of the commentators have pointed out his comedy work with the likes of The Goons and Bernard Cribbens, noting that The Beatles were great fans of this sort of humour, particularly The Goons.

Richard Broughton

[PanBiker]

"Goodness Gracious Me" from Peter Sellers and Sophia Loren as well. He had been in music production for quite a while before he came across the Beatles. They became the perfect vehicle for developing and expanding his studio talents though. Opposites of the musical spectrum when they first came together.John Lennon remarked that he, (George), had never met rock and roll and they had never dreamed of orchestration. Turned out to be a marriage in heaven. Lets not forget Cilla and the host of other acts he produced.

[Nolic]

RIP Keith Emerson keyboard player from The Nice & Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Originally from Todmorden died in California aged 71. Nolic

[Wendyf]

Sad news Nolic. Listened to Nice albums constantly at one point 1969 ish and first saw ELP at Sheffield City Hall...must have been 1970 or 1971 First band to use a Moog synthesizer. Wonderful stuff..but it all got a bit out of hand later on!

[Stanley]

Sadly they revealed on the news this morning that he shot himself in the head......