Red Flag

Canadian X Games-winning freestyle skier Sarah Burke has died after spending a week in a coma after a crash

Yeah. Given that they've made such a big fuss over this birthday, I can't help but think it may be because it's probably his last. There's no other reason to do it...

Wow, Skunk Anansie, that takes me back... Bet he doesn't feel good any more. He was probably feeling quite weak...

Giampiero Moretti, founder of the MOMO car parts company and successful endurance racer in his spare time, has died at 67

Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi (63) has been diagnosed with early stage lymphoma This of course comes less than a year after the death of former bandmate Ronnie James Dio from stomach cancer. Might be early stage but still worth keeping an eye on Endless number of death-related Sabbath songs and albums should make finding a pun relatively straight forward

Not sure if there's a thread for him or gameshow hosts generally, but just been announced that Bob Holness has died at 83

Veteran character actor Harry Fowler at 85

Hate to dampen the excitement, but from what I've been reading on Twitter and the BBC's report, I'm not convinced it's actually on the estate itself. Or, if it's on estate land, it's a considerable distance from the house Having said that, that doesn't mean Phil or another batty old toff didn't suddenly decide to take a long walk in the woods at 3 in the morning last night and never came back...

Also on a darts-related illness note, how's Shaun Greatbatch doing these days? Last news was that his bone marrow cancer was in remission but that was over a year ago now...

Quite odd that it has come so soon into the event... Still quite a few ex-F1 oldies around: Paul Pietsch (100) - the oldest surviving F1 driver (and only survivor of the very first season, I believe) and also founder of Auto Motor und Sport, the German motorsport magazine Robert Manzon (94) - French driver with 2 podium finishes in the 1950s Jose Froilan Gonzalez (89) - the man who took Ferrari's first F1 win in 1951 Roy Salvadori (89) - drove for Cooper and Aston Martin amongst others in the late 50s and early 60s; also won Le Mans in 1959 Carroll Shelby (88) - won Le Mans with Salvadori; famous for his eponymous car company Jack Brabham (85) - oldest living former champion; suffers with kidney disease and is also deaf Hans Herrmann (83) - drove alongside Fangio in the Mercedes team in the 1950s, with 1 podium finish Stirling Moss (82) - now winding down, having officially retired from racing (again) in 2011, although still regularly appears in public. Had a serious accident at home just under 2 years ago from which he recovered Dan Gurney (80) - Americna journeyman driver of the 1960s, the man Jim Clark supposedly feared the most Tony Brooks (79) - former Ferrari and Vanwall driver, winner of 6 F1 GPs Nino Vaccarella (78) - another Le Mans winner (1962) and Ferrari factory driver John Surtees (77) - only world champion on 2 and 4 wheels; lost his son 2 years ago but remains active in motorsport; recent campaign for him to get a knighthood failed to get him on the New Years Honours List I'd also throw in Murray Walker, who's now 88 sounding very old these days, and Frank Williams, who's 70 this year and has now almost completely stepped back from the team that bears his name, along with Patrick Head (65) who announced his effective retirement this week

Indeed, but ALS can be erratic. He also had a suspected heart attack in 2009. Plus if he does go, as you say, he's worth a few points It's a shame. I saw him play for the Boks against New Zealand in the 99 World Cup. Great player. Seems like a cursed squad too. Apparently Andre Venter from the same side has suffered with a spinal condition for over 5 years (and could well have been the better pick, had I known about it before I submitted), and Ruben Kruger died of brain cancer in 2010

Hi. Long time lurker (for about 4 years, I believe). Decided to take the plunge at last by joining here and entering DDP: Abdelbaset al-Megrahi Muhammed Ali Stefano Borgonovo Jack Brabham Frank Carson Hugo Chavez Liz Dawn Clarissa Dickson Wright Aretha Franklin Robin Gibb (joker) Geoffrey Hughes Etta James Wojciech Jaruzelski Robert Mugabe Terry Pratchett Joseph Ratzinger Margaret Thatcher Joost van der Westhuizen Sid Waddell Andy Williams Not really hoping for any uniques there - maybe Brabham or Dickson Wright, although they came up last year. Safety first...