Octopus of Odstock

You know, only 2 days ago, I was thinking "When Graham Bailey dies, who is definitely the oldest surviving player"? I'm doubtful any of those on the list between Bailey and Watling are actually alive and at some point, I'll have to bite the bullet and declare them "presumed dead". Watling was a good person to have as the oldest, especially considering his wartime experiences, but alas. RIP Josser. Joe Lancaster (born 28th April 1926) is definitely still alive. Mike Kelly, Eddie Martin, Eric Hampson, Herbert Robinson, Frank Winters, Syd Ward, John Taylor, Ambrose Wilson, James Kelly, Ted Harding, Bill Mellor, Bill Parker, Eryk Kubicki and Joe Houston are all between Graham Bailey and Lancaster but I doubt any of them are still alive. That said, I'll keep looking for that golden nugget which would officially rule them out.

His son is the one who has posted it on FB, so looks legit. I'm sure a broadsheet obit will follow given him fame in the 1990's.

NEAD, not DEAD -

Back on tour - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-12114161/Rhod-Gilbert-admits-hes-grateful-alive-stage-four-head-neck-cancer-diagnosis.html Looks like he's making a good recovery

McCallum got a notice earlier this year, but the article is written in a way that only mentions his death at the end, rather than "former EastEnders actor dies" https://www.mylondon.news/news/tv/bbc-eastenders-actor-who-made-26172120

Former sportscar driver and the key man to help former World Champion and legend, Jim Clark on his path towards greatness, Ian Scott-Watson, has died. https://m.facebook.com/JimClarkTrust

Fascinating but FFS. Picked at least two fakers (Lamaze and Keltie) and my Tongo gamble failed utterly miserably. Lobinger and Campbell got obits that I never expected them to get. Ah well, there's always next year.

Great shame. First Terry Jones, then Palins wife Helen and now Roger Mills, the Palin 'team' is slowly being picked off.

Ratzenberger and George Wendt reunite again, both looking their age. https://people.com/tv/cheers-stars-reunite-titular-bar-goes-up-for-auction/?utm_campaign=peoplemagazine&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com

Where's the proof it's a private ambulance? Looks like a normal tradesman van to me. How reliable is this Merritt guy as he seems to be the source for the 'gravely ill' quotes.

First player to play in 5 World Cups and the last survivor of 1950, a true World Cup legend even though he actually conceded a lot of goals. Sad news, but 93 is a fine age to get to.

Neil Matthews, who was Bradford's academy director, but also a long time player in the lower leagues for the likes of Grimsby, Stockport and Bury , has died of cancer, aged 56. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/23510205.amp/

Magnificent character actor. This is a sad day.

Two recent deaths, both had some degree of notability in their particular discipline: Long-time sportscar driver, a Le Mans specialist, George Fouche, died after complications of a fall. He was only 57. http://www.autonewsinfo.com/2023/05/05/deces-de-george-fouche-429277.html Took a class win at Le Mans and one-time test driver for Jordan's F1 team, but he nearly perished in 1987 for had his connecting flight arrived on time, he would've been on the ill-fated (South African Airways) Flight 295 which crashed, killing all 159 people on board including wrestler Kazuharu Sonoda. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazuharu_Sonoda Meanwhile, Giancarlo Gagliardi, who raced in European Formula 2 and 3, also took a class win at Le Mans and very nearly raced in Formula 1 for Frank Williams (in the days before Williams struck gold), died 1st May in Varese - https://www.varesenews.it/2023/05/addio-a-giancarlo-gagliardi-pilota-e-imprenditore/1603544/

There's plenty of photos of the Duke in the Abbey, he was only second row back so quite prominent. Seems no worse. If anything, he was able to take more of a role in this one than the Queen's Funeral, but he still looks ghastly.