Death Anniversary Thread

[The Ashes Urn 1,361]

American physicist Norris Bradbury died on this day 25 years ago, aged 88.

 

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,372]

 

On this day in 2007  controversial and flamboyant american businesswoman and hotelier   Leona  Helmsley  died aged 87.

     She was known  by the nickname 'The Queen of Mean' because of her cruelly autocratic and tyrannical  behaviour. 

She was once jailed for tax evasion and gave the famous quote "We don't pay taxes.  The little people pay taxes".

 

.

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,372]

 

On this day in  2015 Irish American  tennis player and coach Jimmy Evert,  father of Chris Evert one of the worlds top female tennis players,  died aged 91 in Fort Lauderdale  Florida.

[Drewsky1211 4,831]

Stefan Karl Stefansson died on this day 4 years ago, aged 43.

Stefansson was an Icelandic actor first known for his roles in off-Broadway productions of Little Shop of Horrors and Singin' in the Rain. In his later career, he was also known for playing the title character in Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical.

 

In 1999, Stefansson was cast as the main villain in Magnus Scheving's play about exercise and healthy diet Glanni Glæpur í Latabæ, as the main villain. In 2004, Scheving adapted it into a kids' show, LazyTown, with Stefansson reprising his role as the titular Glanni Glæpur- anglicized as "Robbie Rotten". The show ran until 2014. Stefansson did see meme fame in the mid-2000s with the song "You Are A Pirate" from the episode "Rottenbeard", used primarily as a joke about internet piracy.

 

In 2016, Stefansson announced that he was diagnosed with bile duct cancer. LazyTown's head writer set up a GoFundMe for him, and fans helped by making the song "We Are Number One" from the episode "Robbie's Dream Team" into a very popular meme (it was everywhere in November and December of that year), often linking the GoFundMe in the video description.

 

As a thank you for fans, Stefan soon made a live version of the song alongside the actors that played Robbie's clones (link). Stefansson announced that he was in remission in 2017 with the metastases removed- unfortunately, the cancer was determined to be inoperable in March of 2018, and he died five months later.

[Summer in Transylvania 2,223]

Ukrainian political theorist Lev Bronstein was assassinated 82 years ago today, aged 60.

 

Stalin had previously ordered assassination attempts in 1939, and in May 1940, in which Bronstein's home was raided by armed assassins. During the aforementioned raid, Bronstein's grandson Esteban Volkov was shot in the foot, but survived. Volkov is still alive now at 96. 

 

On 20th August 1940, Bronstein was repeatedly beaten with an ice axe, which was sloppily used and failed to kill him instantly. When his guards subdued the assassins, he was the one to tell them to spare the man so that any questions could be answered. 

 

He passed away from exsanguination (the loss of blood) the next day. 

 

During his prominence, he was not known under his birth name, Lev Davidovich Bronstein, but by the more widely-recognised pseudonym of Leon Trotsky. 

 

 

"I will not survive this attack. Stalin has finally accomplished the task he attempted unsuccessfully before" - Lev Bronstein's last words. 

[Hell 1,334]

Filipino politician who served as a senator of the Philippines and governor of the province of Tarlac Benigno Aquino Jr. died on this day 39 years ago, aged 50.

 

[The Ashes Urn 1,361]

Canadian professional ice hockey player Nels Stewart died on this day 65 years ago, aged 57.

 

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,372]

 

On this day in 1951  English  Composer and conductor  Constant Lambert  died aged 45. 

He was the founding music  director  of Royal Ballet  and was a key influential  figure  in establishing English  ballet  as an artistic  movement. 

He died from pneumonia  but also suffered from undiagnosed diabetes complicated  by alcoholism. 

 

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,372]

 

On this day  55 years ago in 1967, american biologist  and scientific researcher  Gregory Goodwin Pincus ,who co-invented  the combined oral contraceptive pill, died aged 64.

It is no understatement to say that what  he co created revolutionised  humanity especially in the western world. 

[Drewsky1211 4,831]

King Richard III of England died on this day 537 years ago, aged 32.

 

Richard was the younger brother of King Edward IV. When Edward died in 1483, the crown went to his pre-adolescent son Edward V- however, before Edward's coronation, his parents' marriage was declared bigamous (this is from Mrs. Eleanor Butler's reportedly legal precontract of marriage), and he and his younger brother Richard were barred from the throne. As such, Richard became king. The children lived in the Tower of London, and disappeared soon after, which has led to a plausible rumor that Richard ordered the murder of his nephews.

 

Richard's reign was very tumultuous, with a conspiracy against him arising shortly after he took the throne. The exiled Earl of Richmond, Henry Tudor, arrived with help from France in 1485, and met Richard's forces at Bosworth Field on August 22. Richard was outnumbered and was killed in battle, and as he had no legitimate heirs, the York dynasty came to an end with him. Henry soon married Richard's niece Elizabeth and became king Henry VII.

 

Richard was unceremoniously buried in Greyfriars Church in Leicester, which was demolished in 1538. Eventually, his burial location was lost...

Until 2012. Archaeologists managed to use ground-penetrating radar in 2011 to determine where Greyfriars once stood, and uncovered a skeleton underneath a parking lot in its former location. DNA testing, soil analysis, and the battle trauma concluded that these were Richard's remains (it was revealed that he had scoliosis- Shakespeare wasn't that far off with his "hunchback" depiction of Richard). In 2015, Richard was finally given a proper interment at Leicester Cathedral.

 

[Bibliogryphon 9,654]

4 hours ago, Drewsky1211 said:

King Richard III of England died on this day 537 years ago, aged 32.

 

Richard was the younger brother of King Edward IV. When Edward died in 1483, the crown went to his pre-adolescent son Edward V- however, before Edward's coronation, his parents' marriage was declared bigamous (this is from Mrs. Eleanor Butler's reportedly legal precontract of marriage), and he and his younger brother Richard were barred from the throne. As such, Richard became king. The children lived in the Tower of London, and disappeared soon after, which has led to a plausible rumor that Richard ordered the murder of his nephews.

 

Richard's reign was very tumultuous, with a conspiracy against him arising shortly after he took the throne. The exiled Earl of Richmond, Henry Tudor, arrived with help from France in 1485, and met Richard's forces at Bosworth Field on August 22. Richard was outnumbered and was killed in battle, and as he had no legitimate heirs, the York dynasty came to an end with him. Henry soon married Richard's niece Elizabeth and became king Henry VII.

 

Richard was unceremoniously buried in Greyfriars Church in Lancaster, which was demolished in 1538. Eventually, his burial location was lost...

Until 2012. Archaeologists managed to use ground-penetrating radar in 2011 to determine where Greyfriars once stood, and uncovered a skeleton underneath a parking lot in its former location. DNA testing, soil analysis, and the battle trauma concluded that these were Richard's remains (it was revealed that he had scoliosis- Shakespeare wasn't that far off with his "hunchback" depiction of Richard). In 2015, Richard was finally given a proper internment at Leicester Cathedral.

 

 

Lancaster?????

[Summer in Transylvania 2,223]

5 hours ago, Drewsky1211 said:

King Richard III of England died on this day 537 years ago, aged 32.

 

Richard was the younger brother of King Edward IV. When Edward died in 1483, the crown went to his pre-adolescent son Edward V- however, before Edward's coronation, his parents' marriage was declared bigamous (this is from Mrs. Eleanor Butler's reportedly legal precontract of marriage), and he and his younger brother Richard were barred from the throne. As such, Richard became king. The children lived in the Tower of London, and disappeared soon after, which has led to a plausible rumor that Richard ordered the murder of his nephews.

 

Richard's reign was very tumultuous, with a conspiracy against him arising shortly after he took the throne. The exiled Earl of Richmond, Henry Tudor, arrived with help from France in 1485, and met Richard's forces at Bosworth Field on August 22. Richard was outnumbered and was killed in battle, and as he had no legitimate heirs, the York dynasty came to an end with him. Henry soon married Richard's niece Elizabeth and became king Henry VII.

 

Richard was unceremoniously buried in Greyfriars Church in Lancaster, which was demolished in 1538. Eventually, his burial location was lost...

Until 2012. Archaeologists managed to use ground-penetrating radar in 2011 to determine where Greyfriars once stood, and uncovered a skeleton underneath a parking lot in its former location. DNA testing, soil analysis, and the battle trauma concluded that these were Richard's remains (it was revealed that he had scoliosis- Shakespeare wasn't that far off with his "hunchback" depiction of Richard). In 2015, Richard was finally given a proper internment at Leicester Cathedral.

 

Intriguing Fact: The skeleton was found under the letter R in the car park. 

[Toast 16,248]

6 hours ago, Drewsky1211 said:

 In 2015, Richard was finally given a proper internment at Leicester Cathedral.

 

Interment.

Sorry, but so many people get this wrong.

[Grim Up North 3,771]

38 minutes ago, Toast said:

 

Interment.

Sorry, but so many people get this wrong.

 

 

Drewsky's just going to post a fucking photo next time!

[Toast 16,248]

1 hour ago, Grim Up North said:

 

 

Drewsky's just going to post a fucking photo next time!

 

Aw, he knows what we're like! 

I do appreciate the biographies and anecdotes .

[Bibliogryphon 9,654]

6 minutes ago, Toast said:

 

Aw, he knows what we're like! 

I do appreciate the biographies and anecdotes .

Absolutely

 

There has been a distinct rise in the quality of biographies on a number of threads which are absolutely fascinating.

 

I only brought up Lancaster because Leicester was my home town and we are very sensitive about people trying to steal our cultural treasures

[Drewsky1211 4,831]

24 minutes ago, Bibliogryphon said:

I only brought up Lancaster because Leicester was my home town and we are very sensitive about people trying to steal our cultural treasures

I think I just made that typo because I conflated Wars of the Roses terms- or it's because this is the last thing I do before I go to bed and I'm too tired to notice.

[En Passant 3,759]

25 minutes ago, Bibliogryphon said:

Leicester was my home town and we are very sensitive about people trying to steal our cultural treasures

 

As well you might be since you could fit the whole lot in a Transit Connect and still fit Gary Lineker in the passenger seat. 

[The Ashes Urn 1,361]

American political organizer and women's rights activist Mary Louise Smith died on this day 25 years ago, aged 82.

 

[Hell 1,334]

Irish revolutionary, soldier and politician Michael Collins has been assassinated on this day 100 years ago, aged 31.

 

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,372]

 

On this day in 2012 English  novelist and childrens writer Nina  Bawden died aged 87. 

She wrote over 55 books, mostly aimed at  children , and had huge success with many being adapted by the BBC  for childrens television drama. 

  Nina was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1987  and the publicly voted Lost man Booker Prize in 2010. She is one of the very few writers  who has served as a Judge on the Booker Prize panel and also made the shortlist at some point. Bawden also was the recipient  of a Golden Pen award. 

 

Her many books include  On the run(1964), The Witchs daughter (1966), Carries War (1973),  The Peppermint pig (1975), Circles of deceit (1987- Nominated for a Booker Prize) and The Outside Child  (1989).

 

So a great deal of career success and accomplishment but much heartache,  personal woes and tragedy in her personal life.

Nina married twice.   She had two sons by her first marriage,  one of whom Nicholas committed suicide in 1981 . In 2002 Nina was badly injured in the Potters bar  rail crash .Her husband a former managing director of the BBC World Service Austen  Kark,  died in the crash..

Ninas testimony about the crash and its causes formed a huge part of the David Hare  play 'The Permanent way' about the disaster.

In March 2012 just five months before her own death , Perdita -Ninas daughter by her second marriage died, becoming the second of her three  children she outlived.

 

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,372]

 

On this day in 2010 professional american bodybuilder  Bruce  Randall,  who won the Mr Universe  contest in 1959,  died aged 79.

He famously slimmed down from 425 pounds to 223 pounds after intense and extensive dieting and training.

[Drewsky1211 4,831]

Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace died on this day 717 years ago, aged 35.

In 1297, Wallace (along with Andrew Moray) led the Battle of Stirling Bridge against the English, whom had invaded the year before. Wallace and Moray's troops were outnumbered by about 3,000- during the battle, the bridge collapsed under the weight of the army, causing many English soldiers to drown. This caused English leader John de Warenne to lose faith in troops and retreat. For this, Wallace and Moray were given the title "Guardians of the Kingdom of Scotland", and Wallace was knighted later that year (Moray had been killed in battle by then).

 

In July 1298, Wallace led another battle at Falkirk, once again greatly outnumbered by the English (with a majority of paid Welsh mercenaries). This time, the English decisively won, killing Wallace's second-in-command (John de Graham). Wallace resigned as Guardian due to this, giving his title to Robert de Brus (later King Robert I). Little is known of Wallace's activities after this.

 

In early August of 1305, Wallace was captured by the English in Robroyston, and taken to London. He was charged with treason against King Edward I, to which he replied "I could not be a traitor to Edward, for I was never his subject". After this sham trial, Wallace was stripped naked, dragged through the streets, and then hanged. He was released from the noose before he suffocated- and he was neutered and disemboweled while still alive and forced to watch his innards burn. A merciful beheading is what finished him off, and his head was put on a pike on London Bridge. His limbs were scattered and displayed across the country.

 

In 1995, he was famously portrayed by Mel Gibson in Braveheart. This is considered one of the most historically inaccurate films (its Wikipedia article has a full section going into its inaccuracies).

[Bibliogryphon 9,654]

6 hours ago, Drewsky1211 said:

Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace died on this day 717 years ago, aged 35.

In 1297, Wallace (along with Andrew Moray) led the Battle of Stirling Bridge against the English, whom had invaded the year before. Wallace and Moray's troops were outnumbered by about 3,000- during the battle, the bridge collapsed under the weight of the army, causing many English soldiers to drown. This caused English leader John de Warenne to lose faith in troops and retreat. For this, Wallace and Moray were given the title "Guardians of the Kingdom of Scotland", and Wallace was knighted later that year (Moray had been killed in battle by then).

 

In July 1298, Wallace led another battle at Falkirk, once again greatly outnumbered by the English (with a majority of paid Welsh mercenaries). This time, the English decisively won, killing Wallace's second-in-command (John de Graham). Wallace resigned as Guardian due to this, giving his title to Robert de Brus (later King Robert I). Little is known of Wallace's activities after this.

 

In early August of 1305, Wallace was captured by the English in Robroyston, and taken to London. He was charged with treason against King Edward I, to which he replied "I could not be a traitor to Edward, for I was never his subject". After this sham trial, Wallace was stripped naked, dragged through the streets, and then hanged. He was released from the noose before he suffocated- and he was neutered and disemboweled while still alive and forced to watch his innards burn. A merciful beheading is what finished him off, and his head was put on a pike on London Bridge. His limbs were scattered and displayed across the country.

 

In 1995, he was famously portrayed by Mel Gibson in Braveheart. This is considered one of the most historically inaccurate films (its Wikipedia article has a full section going into its inaccuracies).

 

The biggest crime Braveheart committed was that it robbed Babe of the best picture Oscar that year

[msc 18,562]

Did you know Mel Gibson spent millions erecting a monument to William Wallace in Stirling so that the locals could appreciate their historical hero. In Stirling. Where there's about a dozen Wallace memorials. 

 

The historical ones get the genuine respect you'd imagine.

 

The Gibson one is a common target for vandalism!