Octopus of Odstock

The recent flurry of football deaths continues:- Gerrard Bowler, ex-Northern Ireland international, has died, aged 82;- The man who discovered Mark Hughes, Clayton Blackmore and many more for Manchester United, Hugh Roberts, has died, aged 84. Nobby Lawton, Preston North End legend, has died from cancer, at 65. Hibernian star Willie Finnigan, has died at the grand old age of 93. Link and two men to serve my club, Reading, have died: John "Jack" Cross, aged 78. and Tom Wilson, who has died, aged 72 I've heard of "dying in threes", but dying in nines?? (add Santana, Lyall & Labone) - a very sad week or two in football.

I share your pain in a way. Last year, being the cheeky scamp I am, helped myself, at work, to two chocolates, as I was hungry, had no money & even though they weren't mine, thought "what harm can it do?" and thought of my work colleague's waistline as I expanded mine. To cut a long story short, the female colleague was so incensed by this, she almost made me pay for a flight to the UK, which I got 'free' due to work. She would have suceeded too, had I not made an almighty fuss. Whilst her anger over two chocolates was bizarre, it has taught me a lesson. I no longer eat chocolate & have lost weight as a result. I hope she chokes on her chocolate.

It's one of the all-time great etymological debates, but "flobbadob" seems to result in more hits on Google regards Bill & Ben than "flobalob". Not saying that it's right, mind, just what seems to be the majority consensus of public opinion.

Not just famous for Pugwash - I've a soft spot for him as he did so many voices in the programmes I watched as a child - Penny Crayon, Superted (The narrator in the opening titles), most of The Family Ness voices, he was the original voice of Zippy in Rainbow, was a comic sidekick in Dave Allen's programmes, did the Dalek voices in the early days, and gave them their distinctive voice, and also did voices in The Woodentops & Bill & Ben - the man who did "flobbadob". That's one hell of a resume. Definite obit, and certainly a very ill man. It's up to everyone else, but he's a prime candidate for my DDP team, although it saddens me a lot to have to add him to that list - he's provided me with many fond memories. I had no idea he was that old - I suppose, thinking about it, he must be, but I always thought he was in his late 60's.

Football's year of woe continues, ex England player, and Everton legend, Brian Labone has died, aged 66. Link

Sir Richard Bayliss, formerly physican to the Queen, former head of the Medical Household and one of the leading Thyroid experts of recent years, including research & treatment of lung cancer, has died aged 88. Classified Death Announcement in Times Newspaper

I don't think so, really. They all look well enough or are active enough, and age wise, don't really fall into the "likely to drop" category. But then look at John Ritter and Dana Plato - I guess you never know.. Family Ties Webpage - for anyone whose curiosity needs killing

Aah, don't worry - we all have these days. I made up a new religion yesterday which is why my post in the Oscar Niemayer thread makes no sense at all. To be honest, I was more worried you were turning into Iain. I understand your feelings, I blame Bliar for everything - no matter how trivial.

Why didn't you just post it in the Pramod Mahajan thread, then? Hardly a dilemma..... Thread here.....

Crap. I got a way of thinking wrong. Please disregard what I said. Most people do anyway.

Felt has book out but suffering from dementia. Washington Post article Detoriating health, certainly, pops up a lot in the 2nd article.

It's glorious where I am. I'm sitting outside in the blazing sunshine in-between watching the sport on telly. A perfect day for an outside bet.

It does now. It didn't when it was first posted, that was my point.

Well, morning comes and still no news reports. I think it's safe to say he's still with us. I'm more perplexed about this "quota to fill" business....

According to the news report, his condition is "stated as stable", not "critically injured". Were you the kind of child who stubbed a toe and went to the hospital saying "I've broken my foot"?! Whatever job you do, if indeed, you do one, I hope to God it isn't as a doctor. I'd hate to be on the end of one of your "prognosises" Dr Iain: "Your death is immiment - from lung cancer" Patient: "But doc, I only came in for a hip replacement!"

You promise?!?! This isn't one of your false drama queen promises? Well, we'll see in 15 hours time I guess.

Oh, right, thanks. Age is a difficult thing, in Star Wars, just look at Yoda. However, we must be mindful that they had Moff Tarkin, Mon Mothma & Wedge in episode 3 reduced to walk-on parts. Shame.... Just to keep this on topic - Gerald Ford looks like the Emperor.

The article doesn't refer to his death, in fact it says he's still living. I'll give you the benefit of a doubt for now, after previous cases, but there's no news articles on his death so far, almost an hour later. In addition, I will post this from the Wikipedia history page for John B. Fenn: (I can't find any press releases, and anon IP who has declared him dead appears to be Polish, and the first edit had him dead tomorrow)

How imminent is imminent? 28 days on, we wait....

What, Grimsby Town? I like them. They smell of fish but they're likeable all the same.

Yeah, but, in the new films, he would've been about 8 years old, if that. There's only so much dash, charm & suaveness a 8 yr old can bring, even if he is an 8 yr old Lando. And a smooth hello, would've been more like a pipsqueak "Hi". I mean look at Boba Fett. The Mr. Cool of bounty hunters, and he's just a moppy-topped kid...

If you look just 28 posts before your post, you will see I not only brought him up, but supplied a very recent picture of him. In summary, then, and now, a good outside bet.

The former Brazilian football manager, Tele Santana who was discussed earlier this month on this forum, has died, not surprisingly, after being in very ill health for the last month. Sad week for 80's football managers. BBC link

Happy birthday Tomb Raider! The other two DL'rs sharing your birthday are too piffling to even mention briefly. But you do share your birthday with the world-famous Queen and the world-famous Quinn, Anthony of that ilk.

I wasn't going to mention it, as it seemed quite minor, but that's exactly what happened to Sir Peter Masefield & his wife. Sir Peter died a few months ago, and it was reported today, that, just 60 days later, his wife has also died. But for every Jim & Audrey Callaghan, there is King George & the Queen Mum...