maryportfuncity

It could be him. He stopped smoking a while ago because his lungs were on the point of collapse.

Good Keith story: A few years ago a music journo was interviewing the great man. Keith spent the interview sipping a glass of Jack Daniels but briefly went out of the room to take a phone call. At this point the journo helped himself to a slug of the JD only to discover it was cold tea! The story might be an urban legend or might be the key to Keith's apparant miraculous survival.

Of course JD Salinger is worth our time and he certainly qualifies. I set up a thread ages ago on this board about the number of long-living authors. Two other recluses of note Robert M Pirsig (b 1929) and Harper Lee (b 1926) are still going strong.

We love our speculation on here but I'd put money on Bestie seeing 60.

I like the ones I don't know, the site is an education. I also think they're well chosen, some real oldsters amongst them. Be patient, the Grim Reaper will reap grim before too long.

Bit before my time but deep respect to the man. He raced motorbikes in the days when 'safety' meant putting down bales of hay. Hope he lives for ages.

Beadle is deep, full stop, or 'period' to our American readers. His library on the strange is rumoured to run to over 20,000 volumes. He's also notable as one of the few who pre-ordered and therefore got a name check in the Fortean Studies series of books which collected academic papers on everything from UFOs to sea serpents. Hang in there Jeremy!

I met Jeremy Beadle once and - I have to say - he's alright. Fortean Times Unconvention and he was browsing the books on the paranormal. Surprisingly well-informed, open minded and an all round good guy. One of the most pleasant surprises I've ever had meeting someone in the public eye. I won't hear a word against the man. Well - obviously I will if I keep logging on this thread - but you get the drift. Get well soon Jeremy.

Cowboy Ronnie: Sorry, I've been away for a few days. Re the early deaths of racing drivers, the exact opposite is true. I posted on here months ago about the long term good health of surviving world Formula 1 champions like Jack Brabham and Phil Hill. Re Diana, I'm not suggesting she was offed but I do think the hectic nature of her lifestyle put her more at risk. She was often in fast moving transport and in the later years outside the tough protection of the royal family. Pissed chauffeurs and chaotic planning do go - occasionally - with rich and famous lifestyles.

No we can't because nobody has mentioned James Hunt former formula 1 champion with no history of heart trouble who died in his mid forties from a heart attack. Even Diana had suggested she might just 'go up in a helicopter and not come back down,' whilst this showed her woeful grasp of the laws of physics it did suggest slightly more awareness of the fact she lived in the knowledge that her death wouldn't displease everyone.

Of course the DL qualifies. Famous enough for sure. A basic of his faith is that all mortal flesh can die and we will all be reincarnated. The question is not WHO we will be next time but WHAT we will be. If he's right then everyone on the death list is in the same boat whether they accept it or not. If he's wrong he's going to do die and - therefore - qualifies. Either way, he's the same as the others, he just has a different view of life and death to most of them. The thing that makes a master like the DL special in his own faith is that he - in effect - CHOOSES to reincarnate and help others. His spiritual being is already ascended to the point where this doesn't have to occur. I trust that sorts out the hypothetical query.

The producers have confirmed his death in a manner that will keep the internet pornster/convicted killer Leslie Grantham off the Eastenders set for ever. But how will they kill him. I'd be up for Den suffering fatal electrocution, inserting himself into the computer whilst attempting to interact closely with a scantily clad woman on-line. Question is, would irony on this scale boost the ratings?

A new GP masters series starts in November pitting the fading reflexes and rusty talents of old grand prix champions against each other. Like seniors golf or tennis but with the added spice of high performance machines. Emerson Fittipaldi, Alan Jones, Alain Prost are already signed up. Damon Hill has opted to stay safe and away from the track. We could have another ex-champion becoming an ex-human being late on this year.

Think you're missing the point -OMJ - the odd criminal psycho does 'do' politics but I'm making the point that Gerry Adams repeatedly suggesting this to the hard-core in Northern Ireland is going to piss some people off big time. They know where he lives, where McGuinness lives and - certainly in the case of McGuinness - what he's done. Some in the paramilitaries are gangsters and psychos who've had a good time indulging their trades, they don't want to change and might get terminally angry with someone pressuring them in this direction. Personally speaking, I hope they don't because peace in Northern Ireland is worth achieving. But - hey - this is the deathlist and it's fair to say that Adams and McGuinness are more likely to die violently as a result of the present Sinn Fein statements.

Adams goes public about the IRA laying down their arms again! I.e. wouldn't it be nice if all the criminal psychopaths and gangsters started to 'do' politics. The man has earned respect from republicans but he's asking a lot of some dangerous nutters these days. You never know.....

We've got votes......let's do him!

I think there should be a state funeral for Tony Blair sometime in the next few weeks as well.

The only place he's still alive is this site. C'mon guys, get the red line up and claim VICTORY. I'll be devastated if I find you taking Easter off. Could've sworn death was at 24/7365 occupation.

When he does eventually die how are they gonna survive at Glastonbury, he goes down a storm there every year.

There is now. The homepage makes it clear he's already bucked the odds and is showing signs of improvement. What presence eh?

I wonder....what are the chances of the Maharishi outliving all four Beatles?

Sorry if my post confused you HCW. The question was how come a 'name' DJ ended up pegging out in a hospital near Dartford, Kent. Roughly speaking, the arse end of the UK. I couldn't imagine a guy with Vance's career record and cash reserves choosing to live anywhere nearby. Turns out I was right, he was passing through when he suffered a stroke and he never recovered. Meaning he never returned to his swish and expensive apartment in London's docklands.

One other thing I should've mentioned is that with notable exceptions like Phil Hill and Mario Andretti Americans have been conspicious under-achievers in Formula 1. Some highly rated drivers like Dan Gurney, Richie Ginther and Michael Andretti have come with glowing reviews and departed with poor results. Since Mario Andretti a quarter of a century ago no American has got within sight of the Championship. Maybe there's a conspiracy to stop Americans getting close to the title and save the lives of their team mates.

Re: his finger, it was a running joke with him and he told several stories and gags about it, the one about his dad chopping wood being one the best. Others included waking up alone in a supposedly haunted cottage, feeling something crawling up the blankets, grabbing and biting it and ending up losing a finger. He also claimed it had been shot off, lost up his nose and..... He was a secretive man so maybe someone will give us the definitive account now he's not around.

I was amazed to discover he died in the Darent Valley Hospital. Does anyone know where he was living at the time of his death.