Gooseberry Crumble

11 years ago yesterday in 2012 (February 15th) British journalist James Whittaker, who specialised in royal coverage and ended up as the royal editor for the Daily Mirror newspaper, died from cancer aged 71. He was the first journalist to learn that Princess Diana suffered from an eating disorder after his colleague Anne Robinson noticed Diana was very late to an official function she and other journalists were present at. Anne informed Whittaker of the Princesses increasing pattern of being late, he made enquiries and learnt from one of her sisters about her medical condition.

On this day 21 years ago in 2002, English footballer Walter Winterbottom died aged 88. Winterbottom was the first manager of the England national football team when the role was created in 1946. His career as a player was most notably under Manchester United. On this day 30 years ago in 1993 american actor Donald Phelps died aged 61 from AIDS. Not a very well known actor but he did star in the hit film Ghost Ship in 1992, the year before he died.

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/feb/16/raquel-welch-obituary Decent Guardian obituary for the one and only Raquel Welch

British actress Carole Boyd, who amongst other acting roles has played the character of Lynda Snell on Radio 4 soap opera The Archers since 1986, celebrates her 82nd birthday today.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tv/21408872/hollyoaks-ali-bastian-gives-birth/ Former Hollyoaks star ,actress Ali Bastian, has given birth to her second child.

Raquel Welch a'hit' for me in this pool.

Sadly just been announced that Raquel Welch has died aged 82. https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/us-celebrity-news/breaking-fantastic-voyage-star-raquel-29227719

On this day 4 years ago in 2019, Lee Radziwill,prominent American socialite and sister of former American First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, died aged 85.

British actress Jane Seymour celebrates her 72nd birthday today.

On this day 40 years ago in 1983, German athlete and Olympic gold medallist Lina Radke died aged 79. She won the first ever 800m female athletics race at the Olympics in 1928. On this day 2 years ago in 2021 Welsh professional snooker player Doug Mountjoy, who managed to rank in the worlds top 16 snooker players for 11 consecutive years from the 1970s onwards, died aged 78.

Wealthy American businessman and former Mayor of New York City, Mike Bloomberg, celebrates his 81st birthday today.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-11745977/Sharon-Stones-younger-brother-Patrick-dies-suddenly-57-cardiac-arrest.html Sharon Stones brother Patrick has died aged 57.

On this day 5 years ago in 2018 French born Danish royal Henrik Prince Consort of Denmark, husband of the Danish monarch Queen Margrethe, died aged 83.

British singer Robbie Williams turns 49 today.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-11734765/Rihanna-stuns-Super-Bowl-halftime-pictures.html Rihanna is pregnant with her second child.

On this day 18 years ago in 2005, american actor Brian Kelly, best known for his lead role as widowed father Porter Ricks in tv series Flipper, died aged 73. Other film credits of his include Bladerunner, Thunder Island (1963) and The Longest hunt. On this day 47 years ago in 1976 american actor Sal Mineo died aged 37 after he was murdered in a street robbery. He starred in some real iconic timeless classic Hollywood films including James Dean movies Rebel without a cause and Giant , The Greatest story ever told, Escape from the planet of the apes with Roddy McDowall and Exodus (1960) with Paul Newman and Eva Marie Saint.

Princess Astrid of Norway, sister of King Harold of Norway, celebrates her 91st birthday today. Chinese born Australian professional diver Li Shixin, who has won medals at the the Commonwealth games and World championships, celebrates his 35th birthday today.

On this 11 years ago in 2012 the one and only legendary American singer Whitney Houston died aged 48 as a result of drowning in her bath while under the influence of cocaine and other drugs. Her death was ruled to be accidental.

British actor Damian Lewis celebrates his 52nd birthday today.

On this day 4 years ago in 2019, american actor Jan Michael Vincent, best known for playing the lead role of helicopter pilot Stringfellow Hawke , in hit tv action drama Airwolf, died aged 74 . He also starred in numerous films including Damnation Alley with George Peppard, Hooper (1978) a film an ageing stuntman played by Burt Reynolds, Deadly Embrace and erotic thriller Sins of desire. Jan had A lister movie star leading man looks but not the A Lister acting talent to reach those heights.Nevertheless he had a decent respectable career but at one point it seemed like he was destined for so much more.

American professional swimmer and Olympic gold medallist (many times!) Mark Spitz, celebrates his 73rd birthday today. Former leader of the Green Party in England and now a peer in the House of Lords, Natalie Bennett, celebrates her 57th birthday today.

On this day 24 years ago in 1999, British actor Bryan Mosley, best known for playing Grocery shopkeeper Alf Roberts between 1971 and New Year's day 1999 died aged 67. Well Bryan did not become a regular cast member until 1971 he did first play Alf Roberts in 1961 and appeared intermittently as Alf up until 1963- as a minor character. He also reappeared briefly in 1967. But his career was much more varied than many who only knew him as Alf in Coronation Street may realise. Prior to 1971 Bryan starred in Get Carter with Michael Caine, Billy Liar and comedy Carry on Cowboy. He died just over 5 weeks after his onscreen Coronation Street character Alf died on New year's day. Bryan had previously suffered two heart attacks , the first in 1991, the second in 1997. His continuing health problems as a result caused concerned soap bosses to ask him to leave the show for his own good..

When you say know your audience do you mean that you consider me to be a superficial randy oversexed classy tart?!

British actor Tom Hiddleston celebrates his 42nd birthday. American singer songwriter Carole King celebrates turning 81 today.

Didn't he die on the 8th?