VSBfromH

It is with great sadness that I announce the death of Puddles the Hippopotamus of San Francisco Zoo, at the age of 44. "After 43 years spent pleasing crowds and siring 16 calves at the San Francisco Zoo, Puddles the hippopotamus has died." I'm glad they remembered to put the "and" in the above sentence! Apparently Puddles and his mate Cuddles had been moved to a temporary home whilst their habitat was improved, but this obviously stressed poor Puddles out. Some "improvement" that turned out to be then!

"Bill Johnston, a leading member of Don Bradman's 1948 "Invincibles" Ashes touring squad, has died in Sydney at the age of 85": http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/6690423.stm "His death leaves five surviving members of that unbeaten side. They are Arthur Morris, Neil Harvey, Sam Loxton, Ron Hamence and Bill Brown, who at 94 is Australia's oldest living Test player."

The line up of hopefuls for Sir Andrew Lord-Weeble's new production of "Joe 90 and the Amazing Technicolour Braces" is announced.

Driver killed by flipped cow: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21753120-2,00.html Following on from the "kangaroo through windscreen" death reported some months ago, it appears that Australia is becoming the place for what one might term "animal suicide killers". "A spokeswoman said investigators thought the impact had flipped the cow onto the roof of the ute, crushing the 26-year-old driver." Quite a neat trick - bet he couldn't have done it if he had meant it!

Which makes two Collins in two days. If the "these things happen in threes" people are correct, who will be next? The aforementioned Genesis slaphead Phil? Screen giant Joan or her smutwriting sister Jackie? "Now that we've come this far why don't you wait in the space ship" astronaut Michael? "A Girl Like You" singer and general oddball Edwyn? Lots of fun choices out there, though sadly none seem likely to complete the hat trick. I hope not Edwyn - quite like him. Also, Joan can be quite entertaining, and I'm sure she's got a few more years in her yet, as has her sis. There's Pauline "Shirley Valentine" Collins, who would be a rank outsider at only 66 years old. Even more so Mary Cathleen Collins, better known as Bo Derek, who is only 50. Michelle "Cindy from Eastenders" Collins is 44 later this month and has had problems with anorexia in the past. Certainly has proved to be a decent TV actress (unlike others!) since she left Albert Square. Another one with a birthday this month is Lewis Collins, who will be 61. Then there's John D Collins, aged 64, who played Flying Officer Fairfax in "Allo Allo". Someone who tends to provoke a "love him or hate him" reaction (so might be a popular choice with those in the latter category) is Frank Skinner, whose birth name was Christopher Graham Collins. Only turned 50 this year though. Musician "Bootsy" Collins "Legendary funk bass guitarist and composer" is only 55.

A couple of deaths to note: Alfred Collins, London's longest-serving cab driver, has died aged 92: http://www.edgwaretimes.co.uk/news/localne...king_cabbie.php I love the Edgware & Mill Hill Times' down to earth reporting style: "His daughter, Diane Marcovitch, who lives in Essex, said " ... He said his chest hurt and I called my sister, Maureen, because she lives in Watford." " Michael Newman, co-founder and co-director of Ipswich-based yacht designing company, Spirit Yachts Ltd has died in a light aircraft crash in northern Turkey: http://www.yachtingmonthly.com/auto/newsde...1737ymnews.html "Spirit Yachts became involved in the filming of the latest Bond film, Casino Royale, when the production company borrowed a Spirit 54 for filming in Venice"

I think it's fair what the mod has done, why talk children on a forum like this, it may look like bad taste, even if it is not meant that way. I happy for it to be a kid free zone! Hey, Dodge! I drove past you on the M56 last night. A bright yellow hearse with your logo on the side is not difficult to spot!

Reports are coming in that a number of top football managers are in hiding today for fear of being attacked by a rabid Yorkshire Terrier wearing a trenchcoat...

It was recently suggested that our esteemed friend dave find himself an avatar. Maybe we could help. Here is my suggestion: (only joking, dave. We love ya really!)

Margery Urquhart, Britain's first female spy has gone to 00heaven: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/news/tm_...-name_page.html

John K Lattimer has finally stopped taking the piss!

Bernard Gordon, screenwriter blacklisted by McCarthy who led the protest against the honorary Oscar awarded to Elia Kazan, has died aged 88. He worked on films (sometimes under a pseudonym) such as "Krakatoa, East of Java", "Battle of the Bulge", "The Day of the Triffids" and "The Thin Red Line".

Dave/Iain, when have you been the voice of compassion? ... as opposed to the voice of duplication: http://www.deathlist.net/forums/index.php?...ost&p=96949

Surely that's Brian Blessed? If not, must be his German cousin!

The following link: http://www.superboxing.co.za/default.asp?i...g/international mentions that "Dickie O'Sullivan" has died. Don't get excited, though: "British flyweight Dickie O’Sullivan, one of the famous fighting O’Sullivans from London, has died. He would have been 81 on May 24." Well, there hasn't been much activity on this thread for a while!

Nice one, MPFC! I just hope you don't have to explain the joke to Bruno...

Let's do the "battle dance": http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml...9/ndance109.xml I wonder which James Brown song he was dancing to? Isn't 48 a bit old to be trying a "forward flip"?

Any Shrimps fans want to start a fight?

Should we send him to quarantine? why?

A link might be useful: Yahweh ben Yahweh

... especially when the kids have got those stupid trainers with wheels on and go bombing around the place as if they were in "Wacky Warehouse" or similar. And the parents stand around watching the little darlings and do b***ocks all about it! Even worse when you're carrying a heavy item out of Argos and one of the little sods cuts in front of you and you nearly drop it! Did I (or someone else) once mention on here about the woman in the US who successfully sued a store after she tripped up over an out of control kid and broke her leg or summat? Even though it was her own kid!

Diego Corrales, former World Boxing champion at Super Featherweight and Lightweight has died aged 29 in a motorcycle accident in Las Vegas: http://www.latimes.com/sports/printedition...3&cset=true Love the name of one of the police spokesmen named in the above article: "Blake Quackenbush"

Horror movie director Curtis Harrington has died. Strangely, his IMDB entry also confirms that he directed some episodes of "The Colbys", "Dynasty" and "Wonder Woman" The first link also reports the death of Sir Graves Ghastly, “Detroit’s only living vampire” aged 94

Excuse me if you think I'm being a bit "dave", but this guy was a king: Tomasi Kulimoetoke, King of Wallis has died aged 88

Zzzzzzzzzzzz... Can we have a "yawn" smiley made available please? Obviuosly you didn't know her personally, or you might have got her name right. It is (was) IDA not IRA!