Octopus of Odstock

Bird has repeated the above line in an interview with the Irish Mirror, albeit this time, he may be right. QO? I think he'll get one, although I'm less confident now after the Kieran Cavanagh case. Sadly, he said he doesn’t believe he will see Christmas 2024. “The state of my health now I believe I won’t see next Christmas,” he posted. “But while I can, I am going to continue extending the hand of friendship.”

No, not at all. One of the most notable cases was 88 years ago: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.express.co.uk/news/royal/1664887/king-george-v-death-euthanasia-noble-blood-podcast-spt/amp

So even though his fricking funeral got daily mail coverage, because they didn't put his name on the report, Kieran Cavanagh - for now - has no QO. So I was tantalisingly close to taking the lead of the DDP for the first time in 14 years. I knew someone would come along who I didn't pick to relegate me back to mid table obscurity. I thought he would last longer in truth. Ah well.

A thought struck me that Ian Lavender was a household name to at least 5 generations. My great-grandfather (born 1890) watched the programme, as did my Grandparents and parents. That passed onto me and my daughter has also watched it. She was born 120 years after my great-grandfather. There can't be that many people left who fall into that category. Truly the end of an era. Also, an absolutely lovely bloke.

Kieran Cavanagh. Funeral mass was yesterday in Dublin. FFS surely one media outlet will put that. I still think the QO will come via a Daniel O'Donnell interview but a mention in one of the tabloids would do the trick.

Long article on the BBC about Scolyer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-67870595 Currently has no active cancer but prognosis still 'grim'.

Patience my young Padicrem. Even if he doesn't get the immediate QO's, there's plenty of time for a Daniel O'Donnell sob story interview this year.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thesun.ie/tvandshowbiz/12098260/daniel-odonnell-heartbroken-death-manager-kieran-cavanagh/amp/ Presumably this doesn't count for Kieran Cavanaghs death? It's got to be a UK version? There's Irish Mirror and Irish Sun versions so far.

Barr has confirmed on X that her terminal cancer is 'advanced gastric cancer.'

One for @maryportfuncity here - Carlisle's 'oldest' living player returns to Brunton Park - https://www.carlisleunited.co.uk/news/2023/september/club-special-day-for-a-special-guest/ Harrison IS on the list, but we didn't know much about him, so it's good to tick him as alive. However, I'd be more inclined to remove James Kelly (b. 1925) as dead as per the above, if it wasn't for the fact that Ernie Bond, who played 192 games for Carlisle (so in other words, would be too big a name to miss off their records) wasn't still alive at the age of 93. So I'm not as convinced in Carlisle's records.

Brilliant, thanks for this. These things are never finite, but there are not many other James Adam (with no middle name) born in 1931 in the UK, let alone in April, so I'd go along with that. There is one other Robert Bruce born Q4 in Islington but... The chances of there being two Robert Bruce's born the same day and both still being alive aged 95... I'd be inclined to say it's the ex Orient man.

5 and a bit years is not too bad -sadly. 2014 - 1st death 3 years 2010 - 1st death 7 years 2006 - 1st death 4 years 2002 - 1st death 1 year 1998 - 1st death 3 years 1994 - of course, the first death was whilst the tournament was still taking place, hopefully a situation never to be repeated. 1990 - 1st death 3 years 1986 - 1st death 3 years 1982 - 1st death 5 months Of course, there are more players now than in previous editions too.

FWIW, the headline on BBC news does say 'Kate' discharged...

Motorsport historian, historic racing driver and award winning author Oliver Heal died last Tuesday from oesophageal cancer. A little bit more about him here. Obit to follow in due course. https://www.nationaltransporttrust.org.uk/media-centre-top/photo-gallery/2023-18/achievement-awards/lifetime-acheivement-award-oliver-heal

First 2018 player to go I think. Came on as a sub versus Tunisia and Belgium.

To clarify, It's not actually a rule I would bring in if I were hosting it again, or even one I'd be much in favour of, but it would stop the Jason Smith type debates. I think at least 3 or 4 others on my team don't have a Wiki page but shouldn't have any QO issues.

I was surprised he made it until 2024, he's been very ill since November. EDIT He had actually been ill for much longer. He had pre existing liver conditions but after appearing very ill at a Rushden and Diamonds event last summer, came out with the announcement. Poor lad.

Time has already posted, but yep, Stuart Gray has died. He played a long time for Reading, and he now becomes, by far, the most recent Reading FC death (it was Neale Cooper, 1992). Not entirely sure if the club will last a lot longer than Stuart, to be honest. Didn't quite.reach his initial potential, but very able for us, RIP.

I think that Brighton opera singer picked by Banana, as well as Amy Price are very much on the cusp of FFBI but it is all within the rules. I think if you really want to stop the debate about the fringe picks, then the rule might have to be that they have to have a Wikipedia page to qualify.

Was just.coming to post this. If you check X, he died on the day the Chronicle first reported it.

Gerrit van Kouwen, winner of the 1984 Formula Ford Festival, and later a driver in British F3 and British Touring Cars, has died of cancer, aged 60. https://autosport.nl/klasse/nieuws/38828/formule-ford-held-gerrit-van-kouwen-60-overleden?fbclid=IwAR38739rai3RM8qYgG0dTCaMPfkhlnD2bbkkDcLvWB30JYVw5M6p_3CTWms

I think a few retweets on X to relevant local QO news agencies might do the trick...

One more to point out: Steve Smith, picked by myself for my sporting theme team, is the former Huddersfield Town player now with dementia, not the drummer from Journey.

There was - at one point - if you do a Google search, a note via the BBC, where it links to that Chronicle obit, similar to below where it covers local stories l. But presumably as this isn't an article that is actually ON the BBC, I presume it wouldn't count anyway.

I did strongly consider him for DDP but two things stopped me: I thought he might be disqualified for FFBI I could see him dying off the radar But will definitely die in 2024.