VSBfromH

Jimmy Hoseason The man who turned his family boating holiday firm into a hugely successful holiday and leisure company has died aged 82. I always thought "Hoseason" was a made up name (something to do with Holidays and Seasons?) - shows what I know!

Billy Ingham Burnley footballer known as "the Ginger Pele" has died following a long illness. "The tenacious midfielder, who played 266 times for Burnley between 1972 and 1980, scoring 31 goals, died on Saturday, aged 57" When Burnley were contesting the play-offs earlier this year, a local bakery made gingerbread men in his image (sort of)!

"Oldest ex-pat" Eric King-Turner has died aged 104. I remember this guy being in the news when he emigrated to New Zealand at the age of 102. He managed to put up with the British weather for 102 years. Unfortunately as far as NZ goes, he could only manage a couple more.

Colonel Otakar Cerny The Czech-born war veteran "who escaped from Nazi prisoner of war camps three times, helped stage The Great Escape and survived being imprisoned in Colditz, has died ... a month before his 90th birthday. ... Col Cerny was born and raised in Czechoslovakia, where he has long been hailed a war hero, but joined the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He flew numerous death-defying missions over enemy territory and earned two Military Cross medals. ... Shot down over Holland in 1941, he was captured by the Germans: trapped in a series of prison camps, he made numerous bids for freedom – and even helped stage the legendary Great Escape by digging tunnels with a spoon."

First Ted, now Ludo. Jeez! I'm really not very good at picking my Kennedys, am I?

Apparently they're now saying it was all a hoax ... oh, sorry, that was the other "balloon boy"! Still, I reckon this one will be hiding in a box in his parents' attic at this very moment!

Maurice Agis The sculptor whose inflatable artwork blew away in strong winds in Cheter-le-Street in 2006, killing 2 women, has died at the age of 77.

Al Martino "The American singer, Al Martino, who had Britain's first number one record has died at the age of 82. The song, Here In My Heart, was top when the New Musical Express introduced its chart in November 1952. Martino, who also played Johnny Fontane in the 1972 film The Godfather died on Tuesday at his childhood home in Philadelphia. The former bricklayer's other hits included Spanish Eyes, Can't Help Falling in Love and Volare. "

American photographer Irving Penn has died aged 92

Kevin McGee "Matt Lucas's former boyfriend, Kevin McGee, has hanged himself – 10 months after the Little Britain comedian divorced him ... Mr McGee, 32, who married Lucas in a civil ceremony in December 2006, was found dead at his flat in Edinburgh on Monday after leaving a suicide note on the social networking website Facebook"

Influential rap DJ Mr. Magic (real name John Rivas) has died of a heart attack aged 53. He gets name-checked in songs (?) by Whodini, 2Pac, Biggie Smalls, Nas and Mos Def.

Well done on your achievement! You're not dead though, are you?

Piers Merchant "the former Tory MP and journalist who joined UKIP five years ago, has died from cancer, aged 58" In 1997 "The Sun" published pictures of Piers Merchant, then the Conservative MP for Beckenham, apparently involved in an adulterous affair with a 17-year-old Soho nightclub hostess. Together with the resignations of Allan Stewart and Sir Michael Hirst for "past indiscretions", along with the continuing fall-out over the "cash-for-questions" affair involving Neil Hamilton, this was one of the main factors that hastened John Major into calling a General Election.

Here is some startling news: Patrick Swayze's brother looks a bit like Patrick Swayze!!! A bit slow in the Daily Mail newsroom today, methinks!

Tony Benn ‘Tony Benn had a routine operation at the end of July and is recovering but has been readmitted to hospital for observation and advised by doctors to cancel engagements for the time being.’

Often to be seen out and about in the village where he lives, messing about on his narrowboat or walking his dog. He's hardly a recluse, as Wikipedia appear to be suggesting, and the "Locks and Quays" program which he presented for Granada quite recently was very enjoyable. Seems a very pleasant chap actually, always says hello.

Richard Hayes Stone has died behind bars (last year, it seems - the news has only recently come to light). The former uncle of Teri Hatcher was imprisoned in 2002 for the molestation of a girl who later committed suicide at the age of 14. The actress assisted prosecutors in getting him indicted, having herself been abused by him as a child.

Just spotted his passing too. Amongst his other roles, he also played one of the sinister neighbours in "The 'burbs" and had a minor role as "Head Nazi" in "The Blues Brothers".

Apparently his heart attack came "only hours after a lunch to celebrate being given the all clear from bowel cancer" link I'm sure he would have appreciated the irony. The other irony (as he hinted at on the "Keith meets Keith" prog) is that he was probably one of the main catalysts for the annoying "celebrity chef" culture we have today, although he himself always said (to paraphrase) "point the camera at the food, you moron, not at me"!

Titus the silverback gorilla, star of the film "Gorillas in the Mist" has died in Rwanda aged 35. He was also the subject of the BBC documentary "Titus: the Gorilla King". More here

Bobby Graham "Bobby Graham, hailed as one of the UK’s greatest drummers, died yesterday after battling stomach cancer. Graham, 69, played on more than 15,000 records including Downtown by Petula Clark and worked with stars including The Animals, Dusty ­Springfield and Tom Jones. His best-known work is on hit song You Really Got Me, which he recorded while sitting in for The Kinks’ drummer Mick Avory. The band’s lead singer Ray Davies said: “When Dave [Davies] played the ­opening chords, Bobby forgot the complicated introduction he had planned, and just thumped one beat on the snare drum with as much power as he could muster.” Graham claimed to have turned down the chance to join The Beatles before Ringo Starr because they were not famous enough."

I'll cross him off my shortlist for next year then!

Castro's pal Juan Almeida Bosque has died of a heart attack aged 82. "Juan Almeida Bosque, a comrade-in-arms of Fidel Castro since the start of his guerrilla struggle more than a half-century ago, has died of a heart attack at 82. Bosque had been among only three surviving rebel leaders who still bore the honorary title "Commander of the Revolution." "

If I remember correctly, he is the Mongolian Guy in the Drinking Competition with Marion in Raiders. No, he is the "Australian Climber". Sonny Caldinez is listed as "Mean Mongolian".

Jake Brockman The former keyboard player with Echo and the Bunnymen, often referred to as "the fifth Bunnyman" has died in a motorcycle accident on the Isle of Man. He was 53 years old. He became a full-time member of the band in 1989 having played keyboards with them for some years. This echoes drummer Pete de Freitas' death in similar circumstances in 1989.