DevonDeathTrip

The award-winning writer Paul Abbott, who created the TV dramas Clocking Off and Shameless, has spoken of his "constant" thoughts of suicide. "It crosses your mind every day," he said. "You look at a bridge and think: 'Oh, that's high enough.'" http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6351709.stm

Fred didn't leave his wife anything at all in his will. One of the readers comments about the aritcle is a tad harsh: "... she was only the 3rd wife and not the mother of any of his children..."

More news on Racan - the tumour in his shoulder is secondary and looks to have spread from his kidneys. He is not a well man - number 1 on my list when the next dead pool comes along Despite official denials ('he is in hospital simply because he is not feeling very well") Rostropovich has probably got cancer as well Without wishing to cause clutter on this thread so early in the year, it may be worth noting that the celebrated Vietnam war photographer, Phillip Jones Griffiths is suffering from lung cancer. He has three tumours and has amazed his doctors by surviving this long. He seems fully aware of the prognosis; "I don't hate dying, I hate loose ends. It would be nice to have it all sorted out so that instead of going to a hospice I could go to an exotic beach, smoke opium whenever the pain got too much and live on a mango and papaya diet."

I just love having the freedom to type something gloriously inane like "the price of halibut has gone up recently" without fear of moderation or censorship. Star Crossed, do start taking your tablets again, or matron will have to take you back to the ward. (edited by ATJ)

Benedict Kiely, Irish author and broadcaster, has died at the age of 87.

not bad for a first timer in death pools. I was still incredibly shocked when I heard the news, it is so sad that her daughter is going to grow up without a mother. was at the sydney morning herald website tonight when I read this article. I get a mention towards the bottom http://www.smh.com.au/news/people/after-th...0524284742.html Well done you! To get a press mention in your own right is very impressive.

She would be the first ever scorer of suicide bonus points on the DDP if she has topped herself.

Natural causes....at 49!?! An article in the News of the World today revealed that her body was found surrounded by 15 (empty) bottles of vodka Well if it was in the News of the world, it MUST be true Yeah, its a load of bollocks.....probably 16 bottles! I didn't know alcoholism is seen as a 'natural' cause of death...Labour spin even at the end... There have been a few lurid rumours following the death of Fiona Jones. The comments below this blog article name a senior cabinet minister who implied to have offered Ms Jones promotion in exchange for sex (It isn't John Prescott for once). Seeing as the blog is written by a former MP, I would imagine the comments would have been swiftly deleted unless there was an element of truth in them, for fear of libel action. In addition, The Honourable Member for Reading West is singled out as a man not to accept a life home from.

Unnecessary mini roundabouts. I completely missed the one pictured below, near Sennen in Cornwall, the other week - it wasn't there three months ago and it shouldn't be there now. The local hospital has run out of money and staff are been laid off, yet the council is frittering it's budget painting white circles in the road. I despair.

Mstislav Rostropovich, the renowned cellist and and conductor, is in a satisfactory condition in a Moscow hospital, suffering an undisclosed illness. I reckon he should pass the required fame credentials - loads of press interest, a long Wiki write up and Vladimir Putin has visited him in hospital.

I suspect so, just as with the Barbara West thing mentioned above. I also suspect that the people who picked Nicole Ritchie meant to pick Nicole Richie. I'm sure it'll be sorted when someone gets around to email the DDP boys about one of the following: West, al-Masri and Richie Death of Frankie Laine Death of Dorothy Boyd over a decade ago Death of those two American death-row inmates Little things that can be fixed when they have time. They've done a tremendous job in just get everything up there! As long as we keep a record here of what needs to be changed, nothing will be lost. Just worked out they are two different people - Abu Ayyub al-Masri is Al-Qaeda's man in Iraq and Abu Hamza al-Masri is the Al Qaeda supporting, hook handed, one eyed cleric, who is detained in the UK. (I think)

I wonder if Abu Ayyub al-Masri, also known as Abu Hamza al-Muhajer, who was picked by 5 DDP teams, is the same fellow as Abu Hamza al-Masri, a unique pick for Roger Mortis?

The Cambodian Football Federation has banned foreign players from playing in the country's Hun Sen Cup competition because they are "too good" Sao Sokha, chairman of the Cambodian Football Federation says: "They're taller, stronger and more experienced, so it's unfair if we let them play. They're too good compared with Cambodian players." Cambodia are placed 176th in the FIFA world rankings.

Since the outbreak of bird flu on his farm, Bernard Matthews has been conspicuous by his absence. Unless he appears on TV soon, I'm going to start wondering if he has terminal cancer.

Three wrongs don't make a right.

And Ryan O'Neal with a gun! He was indeed arrested for discharging a firearm and brawling with his son at Farrah's 60th birthday/cancer free party. Poor Farrah, with friends like Ryan O'Neal who needs enemies? He re-appears in her life when she is diagnosed, lets slip to the media the precise and delicate nature of her illness and then goes beserk when she is eventually cured of the disease.

Thank you everyone And happy Birthday to everyone else who I have neglected to send salutations to this year.

There are some inspired joker selections this year; Boy George, Peter Stringfellow, Dame Ellen MacArthur, Lembit Opik, Bill Clinton, Hulk Hogan,Bruce Forsyth, Diana Ross and Ronnie Corbett (selected twice)

Natural causes....at 49!?! An article in the News of the World today revealed that her body was found surrounded by 15 (empty) bottles of vodka

Joe Hunter, Motown's first bandleader and a three-time Grammy winner with the Funk Brothers, has died. He was 79.

Eric von Schmidt, a pioneering figure in the folk music explosion of the late 1950s and early 1960s, whose works influenced Bob Dylan and Joan Baez died on Friday at the age of 75.

He's rugby league rather than union, but Jack Gibson, the Australian coach would be a good bet. He introduced lots of new coaching and training methods into the sport. According to Wiki "Gibson is now confined to a Sydney nursing home and requires around-the-clock care as he battles Alzheimer's disease and dementia"

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has announced to the world that he can cure AIDS in 3 days, using a few secret medicinal herb ingredients. Leading experts on the condition have cast some doubt on these claims.

Yet another cancer ridden Yugolsav leader! Ivica Racan the former Croatian Prime Minister and present leader of the opposition has been diagnosed with an "atypical tumour" in his shoulder.

Gordon S. Macklin, founder of the Nasdaq stock exchange, has died at the age of 79.