Gooseberry Crumble

British singer Liam Payne, former member of hugely successful boyband One Direction celebrates his 29th birthday today. He has also branched out a little into underwear modelling to the delight of some. Scottish singer Eddi Reader, who used to be the lead singer with band Fairground Attraction- the voice behind the number 1 hit single Perfect in 1988 , celebrates turning 63 today.

American businesswoman, fashion icon and interior designer Iris Apfel, celebrates her 101st birthday today.

The picture in my post on May 13th seems to be the most reliably most recent photo taken at a social event this year.

On this day in 1938 , former footballer Colin Veitch, who famously played for Newcastle United at the turn of the 20th century and also played for the national team, died aged 57 from pneumonia whilst on holiday in Switzerland. Regarded by many as one of Newcastle United best ever players, he was noted fir his versatility of skill on the pitch, Colin was latterly nicknamed by some as an Edwardian superman. He played for Newcastle between 1899-1914, England between 1906-1909 and managed Bradford City between 1926-1928. He was one of the very early advocates who campaigned for the professionalisation of football and proper fair working conditions and union representation for the players. Away from the pitch he had a keen interest in the arts and in 1911 co-founded The Peoples theatre in Newcastle. Veitch seemed to have a real skill for the arts as well as football, becoming an accomplished playwright, Composer, conductor and producer too. He counted George Bernard Shaw as a personal friend and mixed in artistic circles. In part because of his talent for campaigned, advocating on behalf of others he was encouraged in his later years to stand as a candidate for the Labour Party at a general election. He resisted this and continued with his union work on behalf of football players as a union activist to the PFA - Professional Footballers assistant- an organised he was later to be the Head of. His role with the PFA certainly caused him some hostility with the upper management/owners of Newcastle and when he had a spell as a journalist Newcastle barred him from the press box at St James Park. He was recuperating from illness on a holiday in Switzerland when he died.

American film director David Fincher ,who directed films such as Zodiac (2007) Fight Club (1999), Alien 3 (1992), Seven (1995) and Gone Girl (2014), celebrates his 60th birthday today. His films often explore themes of dehumanisation, alienation and martyrdom in modern culture and society. He cites Alfred Hitchcock and Martin Scorsese as key influences.

On this day in 1971, US Golfer Jim Turnesa died aged 58 from lung cancer. He was from a large family of which 7 brothers became famous pursuing golf professionally. The brothers being Doug, Jim, Joe, Phil, Frank, Mike and Willie. In 1952 Jim won the PGA championship beating Chick Harbert and he came third and came 3rd in the US open in 1948.

American actor and model Blake Jenner celebrates his 30th birthday today.

On this day 55 years ago in 1967 Brian Epstein, manager of The Beatles, died aged 32 from a drugs overdose.

British author Jeanette Winterson celebrates her 63rd birthday today. She won the Whitbread first novel literary award in 1985 for her book Oranges are not the only fruit for which Winterson won a BAFTA award for its successful adaptation into a television drama.

On this day in 2009 , american writer, investigative journalist and producer Dominick Dunne died aged 83. His daughter actress Dominique Dunne was murdered in 1982. This opened his eyes and created passionate interest in the different ways in America that wealth can protect people from legal consequences. He started to write and speak to the media, ,especially in his regular contributions to Vanity Fair magazine, a lot about how those who are wealthy and part of high society interact with the judicial and legal system in the US. He became quite well known for not being shy about critiquing the rich and famously in his articles for Vanity Fair.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/breaking-stacey-dooley-pregnant-first-27840643 British television presenter and previous winner of Strictly Come Dancing Stacey Dooley, has announcrd she is pregnant with her first child by her now real life partner and former Strictly Dancing partner Kevin Clifton.

At his best Ryan Murphy can really pull off some exceptional gold standard television drama and casting. He can produce some rubbish as well but this was amongst his best work along with the dramatisation of the feud between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.

Thanks! Oh I always appreciate a man who makes an effort especially when he is trying really hard!!

He was satisfactory and very skilled!! Knew how to treat a lady properly!!

I certainly did thanks!! You must be a genius!!

Oh decisions decisions!!

On this day 36 years ago in 1986, american actor Ted Knight died aged 62 from colon cancer. He excelled in and is best known for playing comedic roles including Ted Baxter in The Mary Tyler Moore show, Henry Rush in Too close for comfort and Judge Elihu Smails in movie Caddyshack .

Professional French diver Gwendal Bisch celebrates his 24th birthday today.

Prince Richard , The Duke of Gloucester , Royal cousin to Queen Elizabeth ll and working member of the British Royal family for nearly 50 years celebrates his 78th birthday today. Like his wife, a very uncontroversial hard working member of the British monarchy . Patron of dozens of charities and has carried out many of the less publicised under the radar , unglamorous Royal engagements over the decades .

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/19620632/queen-appoint-new-pm-balmoral/ Media reports that when the Queen appoints the next Prime Minister Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak next month, there are plans for them to travel to meet her in Balmoral in Scotland rather than Buckingham Palace because of her mobility issues. Doesn't really move the dial at all but is worth mentioning all the same.

Coventry born British songwriter Matt Aitken, the Aitken in the hugely successful Stock Aitken and Waterman songwriting creative team of the 1980s and 1990s successful with the likes of Kylie Minogue, Rick Astley, Bananarama, celebrates his 66th birthday today.

https://www.007.com/pinewood-studios-honours-sir-sean-connery/ A new sound stage at Pinewood Studios to be named after Sean Connery.

On this day in 2001 american singer, actress and dancer Aaliyah died aged just 22 in a plane crash in the Bahamas. Despite having died at such a young age, within such a short career she won praise for helping to redefine contemporary rhythm and blues, pop and hip hop music. This earned her nicknames such as the Queen of Urban pop and the Princess of R+B. Spookily to me her last film ,released posthumously , was a vampire film titled Queen of the Damned. In recent years there has been strong evidence revealed in court that she was sexually abused by singer and now convicted sex offended R Kelly.

On this day 80 years ago in 1942, Prince George, Duke of Kent died in a military air crash aged 39 in the Scottish Highlands during World War two. Uncle to the current Queen and father of the current Duke of Kent, Princess Alexandra and Prince Michael of Kent (who was not even a few months old at the time of his fathers death). His wife and widow was Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, who died herself in the late 1960s. He and his wife were regarded as very stylish, modern , beautiful and charming back in the day. A bit of a playboy widely rumoured to be bisexual , partial to many sexual adventure and a lover of drink, drugs and partying hard. During the abdication crisis of 1936 it is thought by many historians that some in government ideally thought George as King stood the best chance of preserving the monarchy , in part because of his popularity. He was the preferred candidate of a great many in the upper echelons of society with doubts about Berties capacity to fulfill the role and Henry Duke of Gloucester regarded as a bit too simple. Alas it was only a desperate fantasy, given his lower place in the order of succession and his scandalous private life, it was always unlikely. There is much speculation to this day about the exact nature of his sudden death and whether there is was more to it and if he was on some sort of secret mission in Scotland when he died.

American actor Tom Skerritt celebrates his 89th birthday today. Starred in numerous films including Top Gun, Poltergeist 3, A River runs through it (1992) with Brad Pitt, Alien (1979) , The Rookie (1990).