Octopus of Odstock

No health news, but Hurricane Higgins still playing so maybe he's not on death's door yet.

Wikpedia says he was born John Charles Carter, in St. Helen, Michigan, but that's wrong (not surprising, considering the source). The US 1930 census says he was born Charlton John Carter, in 1924. However, in the absence of a birth indexation or relevant military record available on the Ancestry site, that's still not a definitive answer. Guess we might not know for sure until after his death, a la Al Lewis.

Sir John Betjeman Not that BS will take a blind bit of notice...

Another win for Reading, Champions League football, here we come Carlisle thumped by lowly Crewe 5-1 - yes 5-1 - yesterday, but otherwise doing well. As are Aston Villa. Who is it that supports Charlton round here? Better look up directions for Yeovil if Dowie stays in charge much longer...

Looks like you have to wait about a month, CP

Well, at least by bringing the thread back, you've given me (and I guess others) some ideas, so it's not all doom & gloom if you lift yer head & shamble back on.

He's doomed. Only question is, will he last 93 more days? If so, he's surely got to be on everybody's DDP list, probably as their joker.

Erm.. DWB.. you're a little slow:- Walter Hadlee dead I'm amazed you haven't seen it - it was covered here & in the news a fair bit as DDT will tell you:o

Happy birthday to often bemused, but always entertaining Bruno Brimley!

Well my take on it is, it's a bit of fun, not a serious competition. Leave it as it is and loosen up a bit.

umm......... MPFC, is this really a NEAR miss? I don't even think he musters enough fame for the "Not Famous but.."! I love me non-league footy, but even I've never heard of him. Are you sure you're not Iain in disguise?

I should listen to my instincts more:- Sally Gray is no longer a candidate, I'm afraid

Well, Dick Francis has been discussed a fair bit here. I'd have to say that I don't think he'll die that soon. He certainly looked well at Aintree at the Grand National earlier this year.

What with Toguri, and Vance, there's been arguments of sloppy journalism lately - this is another case in point. If you're born in 1934, how old were you? That's right, 72. Not 77. What am I on about? Elizabeth Allen, film & Broadway star, is dead. Though not a front-line actress, I've heard of her - in fact I have a vivid memory of her as her role as Miss Platagenet in Cheyenne Autumn where she memorably tries to outact James Stewart & John Carradine in a memorable scene. Also starred in Donovan's Reef, but better known for theatre work. The sloppy counting is in this article. IMDB Page

It's not the death that's dull, it's the life. The most exciting thing Ingmar Bergman will ever do in his entire life is to die.

Dino D. Hopefully the boring candidates left on will all follow Nelson's example.

Yes, yes, Iain, I'm sure it is. Keep taking the medication. Also nice to see that not only were you hours late with the "annoucement" but you couldn't even spell his name right

Paul Vance, the songwriter responsible for the atrocity that was "Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeney Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" has died. Link

No, I mean someone who keeps us on the edge of our seats, a la Pinter or Melly and not Nelson, Bergman and de Laurentiis..zzzzzzz The last three are so boring I nearly fell asleep writing the sentence

Stop yer moaning everyone - the DL has it's 8th hit, Mr. Byron Nelson. Byron Nelson But as for the DL breaking its record this year, I'd have to say it's unlikely as things stand right now.

Indeed he has, and it's both a DDP & DL hit because of this: BBC article Well done, DL! Also, this gets rid of another boring candidate so we can look forward to a more exciting one in 2007.

I feel somebody ought to say something positive, so it might as well be me! Well done, young CP! Fine effort. Alas, two things I noticed negatively - when I checked last night, Madam Defarge's team link didn't work and also it says with some of the chosen ones that so & so has selected them at the top, but a different team below - I think there were a few, but Lansana Conte (I think) was one??

I added both of them following this post, TF. I had noticed von Bulow before, but it's a difficult one to call. Is she any more likely to die in 2007, then in the last 25 plus years? Felt it was worthy of adding on to the revised "More likely to die (and get UK obit) list" Likewise Blackham, I'm sure somebody mentioned him somewhere, but he's a good candidate, for DL perhaps as well. The only problem with Hadlee is an obit, but I think the BBC might do. But I don't think he'll make 2007 - I'll keep my (eagle) eye on that - if he's still ill, I'll pop him on the list soon.

I felt if I mentioned Gieglud, someone would bring up the "Arthur" films. NAP, I take your point. I still slightly disagree in one sense, but your vegetable usage in your argument is a fine one, and deserves to be the last word on the subject. and wearing my MPFC coat, quite apt as that (a vegetable) is what poor old Sir Malcolm was in his last years. I'll get my coat as well.....

The latter. Not as a loose term anyway. Comparing someone like Arnold, who was the last of the great British composers of his era, to some guy that shouted "tequila" in a pop song is like comparing William Shatner to Sir Laurence Olivier.