The Watcher

Definitely. Harvey was as famous in his era as Keith Miller & Richie Benaud were. Miller is remembered probably as he was more extrovert (like Botham, Grace, Stokes) & Benaud for his second career as a commentator in both England & Australia. Benaud seemed to work for whatever channel was televising the cricket & he married the amanuensis (not a euphemism!) of E W Swanton - a legendary cricket writer who was known for his snobbishness. He was born in Catford but said it was Forest Hill & was so pompous that Ray Illingworth said he was too much of a snob to ride in the same car as his chauffeur!!

Alastair McAllister (b 19 Dec 1920) is now the world's oldest living first class cricketer. A mere youngster comapred to Eileen Ash who will be 110 next month.

You obviously meant 118 but still a mystery.

Margaret Everly (aged 102) has now outlived both her famous sons.

Certainly untouched photos reveal a different tale to the airbrushed publicity stills. Only this week 'natural' photos of Joan Collins, Kate Garraway & Louise Mitchin have been in the press & they certainly look their real age whereas Joan passes normally for 65ish, Kate for 40ish & Louise for 35ish.

Paul Burrell will be wheeled out in front of the media if MAF's health deteriorates.

She may have been barely 17 but probably could have passed for 13 or 14 which could be why she was being shipped & shopped around. While your point is valid, if she had been 18 (not much older than his daughters were at the time) his Randy Andy act might have been less abhorrent - although Fergie won't hear a word aginst him & says he discusses football with his babygrandchild.

In an autobiography many years ago, Boycott wrote that he was very rarely out in the 'Nervous Nineties' so either 80-89 or 100+?

Peter Cellier (93) who was a smooth civil servant in Yes Minister must be worth considering as must Sir Humphrey's boss John Nettleton (91). Also Geoffrey Chater (100), William Russell (96), Robert Fyffe (95), Stanley Baxter (95), Doreen Mantle (94), Leonard Fenton (94) & Joss Ackland (93).

Teddie Beverley - the last surviving member of the Beverley Sisters - is 94 & worth considering.

Both of Jon Pertwee's former wives are still alive as are those of John Thaw. Other famous actors who died a long time ago but still have a living spouse are John Gregory who died back in 1975 & played Gideon of the Yard. His widow Thea Gregory (nee Reddish) is 95 this year. Ray Barrett inThe Troubleshooters died in 2009 & may still have all 3 of his former wives alive. Eric Morecombe died 37 years ago & his widow Joan is on TV this week reminiscing with her children.

She may not be interenationally known but Eileen Whelan (Ash) is 110 later this year. She played test cricket for England before WW2 & is the only cricketer alive who overlapped with W G Grace (1848-1915).

And yet June Spencer (b 14/06/1919) is 102 and continues in The Archers as Peggy Woolley.

He claims his grandmother lived to 135.

Good choice. She was always one who could match Paul Merton although without his realms of fantasy & humour. However, this probably means that he will be a permanent panel member & achieve his ambition to appear more often on JAM than any other panellist - only Clement Freud (he who should not be named) to pass now. Stephen Fry never performs as well as one would expect him to - his polymathic genius seems to stop him remembering the basic 3 rules of JAM!

So, with Woodcock's death, does anyone living have a parent (realistically a father) born as long ago as 1857 or a grandparent born as long ago as 1815?

Not a world title but Eileen Ash (born 30 October 1911) played Test cricket for England before WW2.

Sue Barker's mother is 100 in a few days.

Yes, you are correct. I was mixing up my David F's! I think I was remembering the Gimblett book - which was titled Tormented Genius?

Foot was a fine writer and wrote an exceptionally regarded book on cricket suicides. John Woodcock has written very few cricket books but was cricket correspondent of The Times for decades and has met everyone from Bradman to Broad and Eileen Ash (Whelan) to John Manners. Woodcock whose paternal grandfather was born before the Battle of Waterloo nears his century with every completed run/year - something that Gerald Howat (another fine cricket writer) failed to do by 21 years.

Before her death, she was the oldest former subject of King Edward VII still alive.

Arthur Smith will turn 106 on May 8th 2021. He played his first Football League match in December 1934 - almost 5 years before the start of WW2. His career was with Bury and Leicester City. He is believed to be the oldest ever Football League player of the 44179 players (to date) who have appeared since the League was formed in 1888. He is now older than the oldest ever County Cricketer John Manners who died in 2020 aged 105.

Neither is Prince Michael of Kent which is far more surprising than his wife not going. Once the Queen remarked that Proncess Michael was "more royal than us".

Amazing list but how could Princess Cecilie die 2 years before her stillborn son? Astonishing that Prince Philip has outlived so many of his nephews & nieces.

Geoffrey Chater is 100 next month. He is the oldest surviving actor who appeared in One Foot in the Grave.