Octopus of Odstock

Hardly. He was in Watford only last week to open an event or home (something charity based anyhow) and looked very well. He's fine.

I'm not on my normal computer for the time being so I haven't got the link (I do apologise), but on Google News there's numerous mentions of Bob Dole at a event to name a bypass (car, not heart) in his honour. On one, a Kansas news one, there's even a video to assess the Dolester. Frail? Yes. In a wheelchair or unable to stand for a long time? Yes. Looking older? Yes. About to die... well, I'm no expert at these things, but I don't think so... not on his current health. Any more issues though and I don't think he'llbe able to fight much more.

Bless old Jaruzelski, he's STILL wearing the shades, even in hospital!

Those of you who are my friends on Facebook may have seen that I posted to say my cousin, Michelle, had died, aged 35. What I didn't want to say on Facebook is that Michelle committed suicide by hanging. Thoughts and prayers (If you are that way inclined) shouldn't go towards me, even though the whole family is distraught, and it's certainly brought me down from the high of the wedding, but towards her two teenage children, Aubrey and Morgan, one of which, we fear, discovered their mother. Too many questions, not enough answers.

56? Don't you mean '54?

Eve Brent, one of the former Jane's of Tarzan fame has died at 82 years of age

No, it hasn't, and no he isn't dead. Who might be dead is someone that aided with it. Read the link properly - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14720406 Report back here with your findings when done so and whilst you're at it check Google Maps to find out where Algeria is because it sure as hell isn't South of Libya.

Blimey, first Ovendale, now Gallagher. I well remember that Aston Villa team - Reading were at the other end trying (and failing) to stay up. It was a good team that pretty much set them up for stability in the 1st Division - Platt, Allan Evans, Birch (mentioned in that article), Gallagher et al. Sad news. Although in one good bit of news, Bryan Robson appears to have got the cancer all-clear according to the Daily Mail and Mirror a few days bacl

Oh, how dreadful. I remember him at Luton - pretty steady keeper in the lower leagues.

Certainly Les Sealey - I look at those that played in the 1988 Simod Cup Final and find it hard to reconcile that he is dead. Likewise Sealey's team-mate at Luton Town, David Preece. I watched Bread on TV the other day - I thought to myself, they've done well - only one dead (Waller), completely forgetting Gilly Coman is gone. Likewise on the subject of actresses who died young, Charlotte Coleman.

Unsurprisingly, the man nicknamed "The Fighting Frenchman" has surrendered. In addition to Bonkers Bruno, he also fought a rogues' gallery of one-time contenders in his tomato can career: Ken Norton, Gerrie Coetzee, in addition to the more impressive Larry Holmes and George Foreman. A unique hit for Toasted Brown Bread if the proper obit arrives. Here it is, from BBC News - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/14513607.stm

Add Ignacio Flores to the deceased of 1978 - he's been shot dead. He supplied the assist for Mexico's goal vs Poland - not bad for a defender.

And not a few hours later he's dead. The third player (who appeared in a game) from the 2002 World Cup to be dead, and we're not even 10 years in. Recent World Cup's: 2006: 1; Tchangai (Togo) 2002; 3; Lekgetho (South Africa), Matsuda (Japan), Foe (Cameroon) 1998: 3; Cargill, Malcolm (Jamaica), Cornejo (Chile) 1994; 4; Escobar and Gaviria (Colombia), Castillo (Bolivia), Foe (Cameroon) 1990; 4; Klein (Romania), Escobar (Colombia), Glatzmeyer (Austria), Clijsters (Belgium) Then, as suspected it shoots up a bit after 21 years; 1986: 9; Cooper (Scotland), Hakim (Iraq), Bento, Damas and Antonio (Portugal), Scirea (Italy), Eriksen (Denmark), Clijsters (Belgium), Cuciuffo (Argentina) 1982: 7; Juanito (Spain), Daraselia (USSR), Drummond (Honduras), Dirceu (Brazil), Brotherston (N.Ireland), Scirea (Italy), Coeck (Belgium) 1978; 19; Torok, Kocsis and Peicani (Hungary), Pepi (France), Toninho, Dirceu, Mendoca and Chicao (Brazil), Pezzey and Happich (Austria), R Rojas (Peru), Nejazi (Iran), Scirea (Italy), Russmann (Germany), Akid (Tunisia), Juanito and Migueli (Spain), Deyna and Mazur (Poland) On the flip side of the coin, after the death of Juan Tunas, there are no survivor players of the first 3 World Cup's in the 1930's, though French squad member Rene Llense is still alive from the 1934 World Cup.

A great shame. One of the advantages of UKTV Gold for DDP purposes is that it reminds you of people a lot of others have forgotten about. I watched his brilliant turn in Men Behaving Badly as Mr Strang, Gary's Dad, very recently and checking he was still alive (and being surprised he was), I added him onto my DDP shortlist. I also well remember the aforementioned role in One Foot in the Grave. But also, as a child of that era, I remember Wind the the Willows and I adored that programme - for some reason it really captured my imagination and I'm sorry he's gone. It mustn't be forgotten that he was a pretty compentent actor in the 1950's and 1960's too.

My opinion, as an ex host and as a current player (although you would've thought differently after this pants year), is Hein probably has it hit on the button. I was keen to bring it in because I didn't think it was fair, like I did before I was a host to pick people who would be executed and we knew they would be executed - it seems going against the grain of the guesswork involved. I mean it wouldn't be fair for people next year or if the DDP was August-August to pick the two Antiguan murderers - death penalty is likely. However, I think if points are allowed, it should definitely be a "natural" death as the players involved picked them in the spirit of that... as much as I'm aware anyway. Personally, I don't think he'll be executed anyway, but I don't fancy his long-term health chances.

It's a hoax. Besides, look at the date - January 1st, 2011. Iain/Dave/Notaguest, I thought your reading skills were better than that...

Obviously this is going to be way overlooked due to Ms. Winehouse conking out, but Christian's death is a real shame - though to be really honest, her looks opened doors rather than her acting talent (which was about average) - it's more that she was part of a rapidly dwindling list of leading ladies from the 1950's.

Huzzah! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries...Bill-Boddy.html

Sympathies to Bluegrass Flyer, as Grill died yesterday - http://oneoclockradio.com/main/2011/07/rob...as-passed-away/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/9534413.stm - about half-way down.

DDP pick Bill Boddy died today aged 98 - http://www.motorsportmagazine.co.uk/2011/0...-mbe-1913-2011/ - apt timing on a pretty bad day for journalism all round.... Unique hit for the DDP motor racing team should there be an obit - but as he's a journo of 81 years service and the broadsheets normally honour their own, he should get 8 points.

Portuguese. Brazillians speak Portuguese, not Spanish.

Same here, but I also thought that about Harmon Killebrew. So I plumped for some Nigerian bloke I can't remember the name of.

No obit yet, but it's not even confirmed he's actually dead - indeed today's papers are saying he's still alive.

An inspiration to myself - I'm very sorry, but hardly surprised, to hear he has gone. His books were always hugely enjoyable and informative to read. Also, yet another DDP shortlisted chappie or chappess who has gone ahead of the lot I chose. Ye gads, it's a shocker of a year.