Octopus of Odstock

As no-one (I think, correct me if I am wrong) has managed to get this right so far, I'm not going to plump for any of my DDP choices on the list & go for someone unusual (in context), so I'm going for Ernest Gallo.

MPFC, I did say it was for a short time only. Try this link http://www.teamjuicyracing.com/vids/dana1.wmv It's actually better from a assessment point of view as you see not only a slo-mo (where Dana hits the wreckage first) but also from Scott Sharp's car behind. It's possible Dana, had he not hit the wreckage MIGHT have gone wide & missed Carpenter, but I guess we'll never know. FYI, Carpenter crashes first, Dana 2nd.

NASCAR & truck driver Bobby Hamilton has neck cancer. Link - small mention half-way down. However, as it hasn't spread, I think he might be alright. If not, he'll certainly get a US obit, but UK? It's pushing it - but one for people to ponder anyway.

Well, in all the hoo-ha about Charles Taylor, can I quickly mention that Tommy Burns, the footballer & manager has been diagnosed with skin cancer. I know he's quite young & what he has isn't as serious as some other cancers, but my aunt died of the same thing at about the same age so.. Also, how interesting that in, this, the greatest week ever for my football club, this man, (well, of those living) who did the most to wreck it & send it to oblivion, gets his come-uppance.

Eugene Landy, the rather controversial psychologist who became famous, and indeed infamous, for his treatment & support to Beach Boys singer Brian Wilson, has died, aged 71. He popped up a lot when there were a lot of documentaries about Wilson's recent return. He was a rock for Wilson to lean on, so I wonder if his death will have a negative effect on Wilson's health. Anyway, another rambling, link here.

Not that one, but I'll happily start one up requesting his idiot son joins him in prison for being an almighty boring sycophant (ie " a public nuisance", I believe is the term nowadays)

Aye, but there's no reason why Allingham couldn't match Mercado del Toro for example age-wise. That would give our 'Enry another 5 years at least. Anyway, two more have died recently, including Gergely Andras Molnar, the last Hungarian veteran. (There's no news report in English, I'm afraid). The total is now 76. In terms of cloning veterans, I think Germany are. Every time their list goes under 8, they "magically" discover some more.

possibly one for the ironic deaths thread; Marilyn Gates, flight attendant who cheated death on September 11th, dies in car crash. She was on a few of these TV documentaries about that dreadful day, especially when recollecting the crew she worked with.

I predict Gerald Ford will die in a year beginning with 20.. Well, let's put it this way. Iain has also predicted Charlton Heston will die "imminently". If Heston does go in the next two weeks & Ford in 7, then maybe we cut Iain some slack. If not, then Iain needs a new crystal ball...

I presume this is still the thread to post those "famous in their own field but not so well known globally?" If so, Anatoli Puzach, who was one of Ukraine's best players in the 70's (in the old Soviet days) & who played in the 1970 World Cup before becoming a successful coach with Dynamo Kiev, has died aged 65. and the actor Myron Healey is dead. Very well known in Western films, the sort of actor you always recognise, but can't remember their name - his death has only just been announced, but he actually died December 21, 2005 - which is why this death might go missed by a lot of people, especially as you won't see on the Wiki Recent Deaths page. Nice Tribute Page

It's on the front page of the Deathlist, CP. I see what you mean though, but there might be an occasion (I admit unlikely) where a DL selection doesn't make a UK obit. Indeed there's a few this year that given a busy news day or week might have the DL biting its proverbial fingernails. This is a good hit by the DL. Not the most famous on the list, not particulary in ill-health. I'd say this makes up for at least one of Rugova or Winters. Yet another DDP selection I missed, though. Obviously being terminally ill or very old doesn't appear to make much difference these days....

Well, it will be hit number four once a British news site picks up on it. Again, a sign that things certainly happen in twos - look at it in the last few days:- Two British Tv actors dead in a day Two racing drivers dead in two days. Two rock musicians dead in two days. Two noted artists dead in two days. and now.. Two of Reagan's closest aides dead in two days.

Indeed. But Henry Allingham is not due to fly to Munich any time soon...

Iain, your link goes straight to a subscription site so I (and probably others) can't actually read the report. Let's see - this one should work... Alain Danet

I think this man is indestructible. A lot of elderly people don't survive chest infections, hell, I've seen under 60's go for the same reason. 109 & "doing fine" I'm seriously considering taking him off my DDP 2007 "20", on which he remains at present.

Likewise, I've never heard of him, but then art and artists aren't really amongst my biggest interests.

Indeed. Also known to have heart trouble as well in the past...

Carmichael's still working, he's in The Royal every week on ITV. Tony Britton turned up on that one on Sunday! Both of them look, obviously, older, but still look robust & both are still obviously working.... Neame won't drop yet. I see him reaching 100 the way he's going on.

No, I didn't. He's not on my DDP list. But it would be helpful nonetheless, I suppose.

My first thought is, "seven times?! That's quite impressive." But when you think about it, he must have been useless at escaping because he would've been, presumably, captured at least 6 times??

Well, despite my DDP purposes, I'd settle for peacefully in his sleep meself. But if Stroessner, Papon or Haughey, for example were to meet a violent end, now that would be another story....

Wikipedia's Recent Deaths page is no longer reporting his death & the Nikki Sudden page on Wikipedia is "back to normal", as it were.

That well known pugilist, Mr. M. Ali.

I admit it's slightly Iain-esque but just to add from the F1 thread, the death of US motor racing driver Paul Dana in a crash. Also, it is on the borderline of the fame we seek for here, I fully admit but Britt Lomond is dead. Ex-US Olympic fencer, actor, producer, director and war hero, perhaps best known (albeit by a certain generation & region) as Zorro's nemesis in the US TV series. Well, I've heard of him anyway - I remember reading about him in a series of Olympians to Actors articles & have seen the old Zorro series repeated a while back. But I admit, not an acting colossus from an imdb listing point of view. Britt Lomond Re. Fleischer. He's just one of many elderly US directors to choose from & I don't think he achieved quite enough to be on a higher level (ie Scorcese, Edwards - I'm talking from a fame view not a critique) & his health wasn't highly publisised over here, so I wasn't that surprised meself.

I thought you knew about them already RK - I'm sure I told you & you were going to take them off the list. From Max Arthur's Last Post published October 2005 (and also Richard van Emden's The Last Tommy published August 2005: Fred Lloyd d. 28 April 2005, Uckfield John Oborne d. 23 October 2004, Bath Norman Robinson d. 13 December 2004, exact place unknown I think that's it - unless I've missed anyone. All the others listed are still alive. By the way, whilst I was looking through the DDP list to see which ones were gone - there's no picture of Eddy Arnold (ie a red cross) it seems.