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Post by Kimmy on Nov 8, 2016 8:47:37 GMT
Veteran broadcaster Sir Jimmy Young has died "peacefully at home" aged 95 his family has revealed.
Sir Jimmy was the original "housewives choice", but the veteran broadcaster could also count royals and prime ministers amongst his listeners.
The Queen was said to be amongst the millions who tuned in to his show on BBC Radio 2.
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Post by Kimmy on Nov 11, 2016 19:15:12 GMT
Actor Robert Vaughn, best known as the secret agent Napoleon Solo in The Man from UNCLE, has died aged 83. Vaughn was also famous for his role as Lee in the Magnificent Seven, and television roles in Hustle and Coronation Street. The iconic actor died after a battle with acute leukaemia, his manager, Matthew Sullivan, told the BBC. Vaughn died in New York on Friday morning surrounded by his family,
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Post by dennisg on Nov 23, 2016 7:15:44 GMT
it's been a bad year with all these famous people dying, it's almost every week another one's gone. robert vaughn was a fine actor.
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Post by Kimmy on Nov 26, 2016 18:52:17 GMT
Cuba's former president Fidel Castro, one of the world's longest-serving and most iconic leaders, has died aged 90. His younger brother and successor as president Raul Castro announced the news on state television
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Post by Kimmy on Dec 2, 2016 8:03:38 GMT
Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs has died at the age of 86 following a secret four-year battle with dementia that left him wheelchair-bound and unable to speak. The much-loved actor, best known for his portrayal of put-upon Spanish waiter Manuel in the classic 1970s sitcom, passed away in a care home last week and was buried on Thursday. His wife Melody, who cared for him tirelessly, said: ‘My heart has been broken every day for a long time.’ She also revealed that she collapsed while caring for him. After developing acute stress, she was taken into intensive care but ‘got over it real quick’ and bounced back so that she could carry on looking after him.
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Post by Kimmy on Dec 12, 2016 18:37:28 GMT
Ex jockey Walter Swinburn has died aged 55 years.
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Post by Kimmy on Dec 19, 2016 8:31:04 GMT
Zsa Zsa Gabor, the Hungarian actress whose self-parodying glamour and revolving-door marriages to millionaires put a luster of American celebrity on a long but only modestly successful career in movies and television, died on Sunday in Los Angeles. She was 99.
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Post by Old Timer on Dec 19, 2016 15:10:14 GMT
She certainly enjoyed life to the full and as she said, "I'm a great housekeeper!"
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Post by Kimmy on Dec 22, 2016 13:24:27 GMT
JOHN BUCKINGHAM, who rode 100-1 shot Foinavon to win the 1967 Grand National, has died at the age of 76.
The story of Foinavon, who was so far behind at the 23rd fence of the 1967 Grand National that he avoided the melee caused by a loose horse at that obstacle, has become one of the most famous in the race's history.
Buckingham, having his first ride in the National, was reportedly the fourth jockey asked to ride Foinavon and said afterwards: "I'd have ridden Dick's donkey to be in the Grand National."
The image of Buckingham and Foinavon circumnavigating the stricken runners and jumping the Canal Turn the best part of a furlong clear have become synonymous with the race. The fence between Becher's Brook and the Canal Turn was officially renamed the Foinavon fence in 1984.
Buckingham retired a little more than four years after his career-defining victory and became a jockeys' valet. He continued in that role for 30 years before retiring in 2001.
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Post by Old Timer on Dec 22, 2016 15:16:36 GMT
RIP John Buckingham, though he was called every name you could think of (and then some) on that particular day, as having already backed the Lincoln winner I had Honey End in the National but for all his efforts he was unable to peg back Foinavon. Of course, had Foinavon been anywhere near the pack he'd have been caught up in it, but was so far back he could carefully wend his way through.
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Post by Kimmy on Dec 24, 2016 17:32:24 GMT
The Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt has died at the age of 68 after suffering from a severe infection.
Parfitt was taken to hospital in Marbella, Spain, on Thursday evening due to complications arising from a pre-existing shoulder injury. He died there at lunchtime on Saturday, his manager and family said in a statement.
“We are truly devastated to have to announce that Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt has passed away at lunchtime today,” the statement said. “He died in hospital in Marbella, Spain, as a result of a severe infection, having been admitted to hospital on Thursday evening following complications to a shoulder injury incurred by a previous fall.
“This tragic news comes at a time when Rick was hugely looking forward to launching a solo career with an album and autobiography planned for 2017, following his departure from Status Quo’s touring activities on medical advice. He will be sorely missed by his family, friends, fellow band members, management, crew and his dedicated legion of fans from throughout the world, gained through 50 years of monumental success with Status Quo.”
It added: “Rick is survived by his wife, Lyndsay, their twins, Tommy and Lily, and Rick’s adult children, Rick Jr and Harry. No further comment will be made at this time and Rick’s family and the band ask for their privacy to be respected at this difficult time.”
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Post by Kimmy on Dec 24, 2016 17:35:22 GMT
BOB McCREERY, the amateur rider-turned-breeder who was instrumental in the establishment of the European Breeders' Fund, has died. He was 86.
The son of the distinguished WWII general Sir Richard McCreery, Bob McCreery was champion amateur rider in 1956-57 having dead-heated for the title with Danny Moralee the previous season. His successes in the saddle included the 1953 Welsh Grand National on Stalbridge Rock.
He served a spell as assistant to trainer Ryan Price before moving into the breeding industry. From his Stowell Hill Stud near Wincanton he bred the likes of Old Vic, the French and Irish Derby winner, High Top, Dominica, winner of the King's Stand Stakes who he also owned, and Royal Ascot winner Gale Force Ten.
Away from the track, McCreery was a long-standing trustee of the Injured Jockeys Fund and was also one of the the driving forces behind the creation of JETS (Jockeys Education and reTraining Scheme) and the European Breeders' Fund, a major sponsor of racing.
Close friend Brough Scott paid tribute and said: "At first meeting Bob's slightly shy exterior could make him seem a touch reserved but he was a warm, brave, funny, clear thinking and immensely generous man.
"I am thinking of his wife Jeanette and the family and we will all miss him very much. We have lost a fine and highly original man that it was an honour to have known."
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Post by Kimmy on Dec 26, 2016 8:45:21 GMT
Legendary singer George Michael died "peacefully" on Christmas Day aged just 53, his publicist has announced.
The police and ambulance service were called to his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire just before 2pm.
The sad news was broken in a short statement issued at 11pm by Michael Lippman, which said: "It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period.
"The family would ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time. There will be no further comment at this stage."
Mr Lippman later revealed George was found "in bed, lying peacefully" and that he is understood to have died of heart failure.
He told Billboard that the exact time of death is not clear at this time, but there was "no foul play whatsoever".
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Post by Kimmy on Dec 28, 2016 8:21:39 GMT
Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher has died in hospital, days after suffering a heart attack on a flight.
The 60-year-old, who became an international screen star and sex symbol when she appeared as Princess Leia in the 1977 sci-fi blockbuster, was taken ill on a flight from London to Los Angeles on December 23.
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Post by Kimmy on Dec 28, 2016 18:38:40 GMT
Actor Liz Smith, who played Nana in BBC sitcom The Royle Family, has died at the age of 95.
Smith passed away on Christmas Eve, a spokeswoman for her family said.
Her death comes just five months after Caroline Aherne, who starred in and co-wrote The Royle Family, died from lung cancer.
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Post by Kimmy on Dec 29, 2016 9:12:48 GMT
Debbie Reynolds, who starred opposite Gene Kelly in the 1952 musical Singin' in the Rain, has died a day after the death of her daughter, Carrie Fisher. The US actress, 84, had been rushed to hospital with a suspected stroke. Her son, Todd Fisher, said the stress of his sister's death had been too much for her and in her last words, she had said she wanted to be with Carrie. Will and Grace sitcom star Debra Messing said Reynolds, her on-screen mother, had been an "inspiration". "A legend of course," she wrote in a statement, "the epitome of clean cut American optimism, dancing with Gene Kelly as an equal, a warrior woman who never stopped working.'' For Star Trek actor William Shatner, Reynolds was one of the last of the Hollywood royalty.
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Post by Kimmy on Jan 12, 2017 18:53:35 GMT
Former England manager Graham Taylor has died at the age of 72.
As a club manager, Taylor led Watford from the Fourth Division to runners-up in the old First Division in six seasons, and to the 1984 FA Cup final.
He took Aston Villa to second in the First Division, returning to Watford and Villa after his spell in charge of the national side, and managing Wolves.
He became England boss in 1990 but resigned in 1993 after the team failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup.
Taylor later became a renowned pundit for BBC Sport.
A family statement said: "With the greatest sadness, we have to announce that Graham passed away at his home early this morning of a suspected heart attack.
"The family are devastated by this sudden and totally unexpected loss."
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Post by Kimmy on Jan 23, 2017 18:21:16 GMT
Actor Gorden Kaye, who became a household name for his role in the BBC sitcom 'Allo 'Allo!, has died at the age of 75. He passed away in a care home this morning, the star's former agency said. The BAFTA-nominated English comic actor also appeared in Last of the Summer Wine, Are You Being Served?, Emmerdale and Coronation Street. In his 1989 autobiography René and Me, Kaye described himself as a 'shy, gay and overweight boy' who found self-confidence and self-expression through acting. 'Allo 'Allo! co-star Vicki Michelle led the tributes to Kaye. She wrote on Twitter: 'So sad to hear news of Gorden Kaye. A brilliantly talented actor consummate professional, loved the world over. 'There'll never be another Rene.'
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Post by Kimmy on Jan 28, 2017 9:24:01 GMT
Hollywood legend Sir John Hurt, who starred in The Elephant Man and Harry Potter and was nominated for two Oscars, dies aged 77 after a battle with cancer and suffering an intestinal complaint
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Post by Kimmy on Feb 8, 2017 17:35:51 GMT
Socialite Tara Palmer-Tomkinson has been found dead aged 45. The star, who rose to fame in the 1990s as a hard-partying "It Girl", had received treatment in 2016 for a non-malignant brain tumour. A woman in her 40s was found dead at Palmer-Tomkinson's flat in Bramham Gardens, South Kensington, at 13:40 GMT, the Met Police said. Prince Charles, a close friend of the star's family, led tributes and said he was "deeply saddened" by her death. Palmer-Tomkinson, a former Sunday Times columnist and reality TV star, was a regular on the London party scene in the 1990s and 2000s. She made headlines for her social life, frequently appearing in the pages of society and celebrity magazines, before later appearing on reality TV. The tabloid darling also battled a high-profile cocaine addiction, which she discussed publicly on a number of occasions.
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Post by Kimmy on Mar 19, 2017 9:17:41 GMT
Chuck Berry, who with his indelible guitar licks, brash self-confidence and memorable songs about cars, girls and wild dance parties did as much as anyone to define rock ’n’ roll’s potential and attitude in its early years, died on Saturday. He was 90.
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Post by Kimmy on May 23, 2017 16:15:43 GMT
Actor Sir Roger Moore, best known for playing James Bond, has died aged 89, his family has announced. He played the famous spy in seven Bond films including Live and Let Die and A View to a Kill. Sir Roger's family confirmed the news on Twitter, saying he had died after "a short but brave battle with cancer". The statement, from his children, read: "Thank you Pops for being you, and being so very special to so many people." "With the heaviest of hearts, we must share the awful news that our father, Sir Roger Moore, passed away today. We are all devastated," they said in a Twitter post.
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Post by Kimmy on Jun 4, 2017 11:53:37 GMT
David Nicholls: multiple Group 1 winning trainer has decided to quit David Nicholls: son Adrian announced death, at age of 61, on Twitter Martin Lynch 1 of 1 By Mark Scully 11:45AM, JUN 4 2017 David Nicholls has died at the age of 61, his son Adrian announced on Sunday.
Nicholls, who rode more than 400 winners as a jockey, brought down the curtain on a training career that saw him dubbed the Sprint King in February of this year, citing financial problems.
In a Tweet posted shortly after 11am on Sunday, Adrian Nicholls wrote: "RIP dad love you always go have pint with Archie and Lindsay, Pat and Walter. Gutted doesn't come close."
The former trainer's death comes less than 24 hours after veteran Sovereign Debt, who was his final runner and winner in February, continued his excellent 2017 with victory in the Group 3 Investec Diomed Stakes at Epsom.
Nicholls, nicknamed Dandy, was best known as a jockey for his association with Soba, who put together a remarkable sequence of victories in 1982.
He subsequently turned his hand to training and developed a reputation for being a master handler of sprinters, with the likes of Continent, who won the July Cup and Prix de l'Abbaye in 2002, and Regal Parade, also a dual Group 1 winner, advertising his talents.
Goodwood's Stewards' Cup was a profitable race for Nicholls, with Tayseer, Gift Horse and Evens And Odds winning for him in 2000, 2005 and 2010.
In total, Yorkshire-based Nicholls saddled 1,269 winners as a trainer, two of which came over jumps.
Owner Marwan Koukash was among those paying tribute to Nicholls on Twitter on Sunday, writing: "Very sad to hear of the death of Dandy (king of sprints) Nicholls. RIP mate and many thanks for the wonderful memories."
Jockey Tony Hamilton, meanwhile, tweeted: "Saddened to hear the loss of Dandy Nicholls who got me started as an apprentice. RIP"
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Post by Kimmy on Jun 10, 2017 17:03:53 GMT
Adam West, the ardent actor who managed to keep his tongue in cheek while wearing the iconic cowl of the Caped Crusader on the classic 1960s series Batman, has died. He was 88.
West, who was at the pinnacle of pop culture after Batman debuted in January 1966, only to see his career fall victim to typecasting after the ABC show flamed out, died Friday night in Los Angeles after a short battle with leukemia, a family spokesperson said.
West died peacefully surrounded by his family and is survived by his wife Marcelle, six children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
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Post by Kimmy on Jul 6, 2017 19:36:20 GMT
Mercy Rimell, who in 1983 became the first woman to train a Champion Hurdle winner with Gaye Brief, has died at the age of 98.
Rimell was the widow of the legendary jumps trainer Fred Rimell, who was both champion jockey and trainer and also saddled the winner of four Grand Nationals including ESB, the beneficiary of Devon Loch's famous mishap, and Rag Trade.
Upon Rimell's death in 1981, Mercy took over the licence at Kinnersley and trained with a great deal of success. Besides Gaye Brief, she also sent out Gaye Chance to win the 1984 Stayers' Hurdle and Gala's Image, who won the Arkle three years later. She retired from training in 1989.
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Post by Old Timer on Jul 7, 2017 0:01:27 GMT
Famous name from the past, and was still remembered in some quarters. RIP.
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Post by Kimmy on Aug 18, 2017 15:45:26 GMT
Sir Bruce Forsyth, the veteran entertainer and presenter of many successful TV shows, has died aged 89. The former Strictly Come Dancing presenter had been unwell for some time and was in hospital earlier this year after a severe chest infection. His long career in showbusiness began when he was aged just 14. He became Britain's best-paid TV star, famous for hosting game shows like The Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right and The Price is Right. He also presented BBC One's Strictly with Tess Daly from 2004 to 2014.
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Post by Kimmy on Sept 18, 2017 7:28:15 GMT
Racing has lost one of its legendary figures with the death of Derby-winning trainer Geoff Wragg. He was 87.
Newmarket-based Wragg won the 1983 Derby with Teenoso in his first season after taking over the licence at Abington Place from his father Harry, whom he had assisted for the previous 28 years.
Two years before his retirement in 2008 Wragg was just a short head away from capturing a second Derby with 66-1 chance Dragon Dancer.
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Post by Kimmy on Sept 21, 2017 20:16:56 GMT
William G Stewart, the TV producer and director who became the long-time host of quiz show 15 to 1, has died aged 84. "Sadly William G Stewart passed away peacefully this morning surrounded by his family after a brief illness," his agents confirmed. Stewart, a former Butlins redcoat who began his television career behind the camera, presented the Channel 4 show from 1988 to 2003. His stern, no-nonsense demeanour made him a firm favourite with viewers. 'Like a severe teacher' Yet his background was in TV sitcoms, producing and directing such comedies as Father Dear Father, Bless This House and Love Thy Neighbour. In the 1980s he turned to game shows, working on such ITV favourites as Family Fortunes and The Price is Right. He originally wanted Jonathan Ross to present 15 to 1, only taking the job himself when nobody more suitable could be found. The show saw 15 contestants try to avoid elimination by either answering questions correctly or having other contestants answer first. "They always thought I was like a severe teacher," Stewart told the BBC in 2009. "I was described as a geography master standing in front of pupils."
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Post by Kimmy on Sept 26, 2017 10:32:02 GMT
Coronation Street actress Liz Dawn, who played Vera Duckworth in the soap for more than 30 years, has died. Her family said they were "devastated" after the death of the "incredible" 77-year-old. They added: "She has been the love, light and inspiration in our lives and we are bereft at her passing." Dawn died at her home, surrounded by her family, on Monday night. ITV said everyone at Coronation Street was "heartbroken" at the news.
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