YoungWillz

Melvyn Bragg, Baron Bragg is, one can only ascribe the term, a British legend. A novelist, a screenwriter, a broadcaster and now elevated to the peerage, he has come a long way from his working class roots in Wigton in the North of England. Well known for presenting the ITV Arts programme The South Bank Show for 22 years, he is much more than that. He has not had his troubles to seek however in his personal life, having suffered two well discussed breakdowns, and he supports Arsenal. He is well worthy of a thread of his own in my opinion. He becomes 80 next year and has recently been doing the rounds of the media, giving interviews hither and thither. What caught my eye were: This interview with his daughter a couple of years ago with the Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/bbc/11762778/Melvyn-Braggs-daughter-My-father-has-been-a-tortured-man-all-my-life.html An interview with The Guardian a few days ago, in which he reveals he had a hip operation which has led to some form of lingering pneumonia: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/jun/26/britain-is-becoming-a-stupid-country-melvyn-bragg-says A more recent headline story in The Times (sadly behind a paywall) about his suicidal thoughts: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/bragg-i-haven-t-used-tube-since-considering-suicide-nrxfjt8wm

You cannot score goals in the warm up.

Anita Wood, later Anita Wood Brewer, reportedly dead: https://www.vicksburgpost.com/2023/06/30/anita-marie-brewer/ IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2578290/

Tony Murray who died back on 6 June gets his Times QO: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tony-murray-obituary-dnt59dzmf

Death notice for Sheila Mathewson (nee Bennett) aged 81, wife of Scottish banker Sir George Mathewson: https://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/marketplace/advert/mathewson-notices_52319 Given the new layout, I'm assuming folk here can read these now. If not, I'll reproduce the thing. Anyhow, Sir George is 83 and eminently obitable in due course, if you fancy a punt.

Raymond Cassagnol dead at 102 and straight to Mail obit: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-12252703/Tuskegee-Airman-Raymond-Cassagnol-dies-102.html

Allan Border goes public with his Parkinson's diagnosis - from 7 years ago: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/article-12250913/Allan-Border-reveals-Parkinsons-Australian-cricket-legend-opens-battle.html

Just back from my cousin's funeral. Technically a friend of the family's son. Cancer. 8 months took him. This was the first Orange funeral I have been to - it's quite the event.

Stabbity stab stab stab deaths in mass stabbing in Islington: https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1786184/boy-dies-mass-stabbing-north-london No word on Jeremy Corbyn's condition.

So Biblio says he's dead on the Scavvy thread. Nothing news wise so far though I have seen the tweet by Jason Alexander. So we wait.

Report that Barry Phillips-Moore, Australian player who reached the singles semis in the Australian Open twice, the men's doubles quarters in the same championship 8 times and the French Open once, and the mixed doubles quarters in the Australian Open 3 times, has died aged 85:

Reports the death of Tim Blackmore, his producer who was hired in connection with the launch of the new BBC Radios in 1967: Tim Blackmore also worked with Stuart Henry and Noel Edmonds in those early days, and later worked with Alan Freeman on his evening show. Went on to work at Capital Radio, worked on the early Brit Awards shows. Bit of a name, but no Wiki page.

Sue Johanson QO: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/29/sue-johanson-dead-93-canadian-sex-educator

Court of Appeal decides by a majority that Rwanda is not a safe third country for asylum. Fuck yer Bill of Rights Raab and fuck yer £170,00 per person one way ticket there.

Activist Jonathan Blake, one of the first people to be diagnosed HIV+ in the UK, turned up on Sky News this morning. Tbh, it's a miracle he survived. Anyhow, not ready to go yet as he describes his current state of health as "radiant".

Lowell Weicker QO: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/former-connecticut-gov-u-sen-161700757.html

Former Senator and prospective candidate for President and former Connecticut Governor Lowell P Weicker reportedly dead aged 92: https://ctmirror.org/2023/06/28/lowell-weicker-dies-ct-governor-us-senator/ Popular round these parts. Was he a DDP pick? Edit: just checked, yes he was!

David Ogilvy QO: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2023/06/28/earl-of-airlie-obituary-lord-chamberlain-queen-schroders/

Paula, the wheelchair half of Strictly Wheels who appeared on Britain's Got Talent back in 2012, reportedly dead: Here's their audition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCp3_jaYOZ4

Ogilvy, 13th Earl of Airlie reportedly hasn't made it through 2023: DDP pick I'm sure.

Ahem!

Maybe he's caught a bug. A Jitterbug!

Well, he's lost a leg...

Stage Obit for Peter Reeves, actor who appeared in comedy vehicles Hugh And I, It's Tommy Cooper, The Goodies and Sykes, but equally at home in serious parts in No Hiding Place, The Onedin Line and Casualty: https://www.thestage.co.uk/obituaries--archive/obituaries/peter-reeves He plays the first victim Sir John Willard in the Poirot adaptation of The Adventure Of The Egyptian Tomb. Wrote lyrics for Engine of Love, a song that appears in some adaptations of Starlight Express. IBDB: https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/peter-reeves-13223