Deathrace

Children's author, the appropriately named Dame Penelope Lively. Turns 90 this year. Wrote The Ghost of Thomas Kempe (1973) and Moon Tiger (1987). I thought she was long gone. New interview with her here https://unherd.com/2023/02/the-books-that-made-me-2/

He doesn't look at death's door to me. For example, unlike a lot of terminally ill older people, his hands are not discoloured. I reckon maybe another couple of years.

Here's also a photo from a couple of days ago of Ken Rosewall (88), Rod Laver (84), Neale Fraser (89) and Frank Sedgman (95) at the Australian Open. It would be hard to find another sport (apart from possibly Golf) where so many leading players make it into such advanced years in relatively decent health.

Ken Rosewall is at the Australian Open Men's Final. He looks pretty old but is 88 in fairness. He's sitting next to John Newcombe who looks in rude health. Here's a photo of Rosewall.

What chance do people reckon of her surviving John Cleese? Sybil and Basil have done very well to still be going nearly 50 years after the first series of Fawlty Towers all things considered.

Whatever the state of her mental powers which one assumes aren't great, based on recent photos she could physically pass for ten years younger than she is.

That left eye looks painful again. His voice is still very strong though.

Out of interest, at 93 he must be one of oldest global celebrities to ever get married? Struggling to think of anyone older to tie the knot.

He does look good for a 93 year old who is a recovered alcoholic (an achievement in itself). Lets hope Buzz's shuttle can still clear the tower.

I'm genuinely quite surprised to be honest.

Delivered a speech by video to the World Economic Forum today where he argued for Ukraine to be able to join NATO.

Kenny Sansom is looking a lot healthier now thankfully and claims on Twitter to have been sober for over two years. This is him last night with George Graham who also looks well for 78.

He looks a bit like the very late stage Henry VIII.

There's certainly more chance of Kissinger seeing 2024 than there is of North Korea agreeing to give up its nuclear weapons.

If he gets to August he'll be 100. Will he make it?