OBITUARIES

[Bruff]

RIP indeed, Lewis Collins. An interesting character, he was from Bebbington on Wirral and was a drummer in local bands and a hairdresser before taking up acting. Some suggest his role as an SAS officer in the 1982 film Who Dares Wins led to an informal blacklisting, explaining his limited work post that, due to the film's focus on 'anti-nuclear terrorists', CND/Greenham etc being very much in liberal minds at the time. Who knows? He was turned down as James Bond for his audition being 'too aggressive' - he wanted to take Bond back to Ian Flemming's original quite nasty piece of work. Ahead of his time, as fellow Wirral lad Daniel Craig has done this. And he was also turned down for membership of the Territorial SAS, despite passing selection, as he was 'too well-known'.

Richard Broughton

[Cathy]

RIP Nelson Mandela 1918-2013

A remarkable man.

[Stanley]

He was Cathy. The greatest statesman of the 20th century with the possible exception of his mentor figure, Mahatma Gandhi. A great man. The SA government have managed the inevitable very well, everyone knew he would leave us and his people were well prepared. They are celebrating him, just as it should be.
Now, who was it who branded him a 'terrorist'....? I remember the row in Rochdale when the Labour Council named the main Council office block, Mandela House.

[chinatyke]

In truth, his legacy is a nation where >25% of the population live on <80 pence a day and unemployment is >25% and could be as high as 40%. 62% of black Africans and 29% of coloureds but only 4% of whites live in poverty. Apartheid may have gone but poverty has not. This country has the largest GDP in Africa and should be progressing. It has gone from a powerful place ruled by whites to a dangerous place ruled by ANC. My friend lives in Hawick near Jo'berg and carries a gun when he leaves his secure compound. Take off your rose tinted spectacles, this is the reality.

[Tripps]

Not everyone there is living on less than 80 pence per day.

Link

[Stanley]

Seamus Peter O'Toole known as Spot to his friends has died aged 81.

[Cathy]

Great actor, bit of a lad (understatement ??) The film Laurence of Arabia really upset me when I saw it many years ago, I think I was in my young 20's, it was the scene where the guy blew up, it shocked me, just awful.

[EileenDavid]

On the Nelson Mandela front my brother lived and died in South Africa. Well actually he died aged 56 in Mali as when the country was taken over by Mandela's regime he had to take contracts outside of his beloved South Africa to make ends meet. He was an engineer and from being a schoolboy was always going to live in SA. His widow and family have come back to the UK why because one of my nieces had a gun pushed through her car window by some black guy who wanted to rob her.

I visited the country on several occasions when Apartheid was enforced I believe the word means segregation and it wasn't just black and white segregation it was Affricaans, White South Africans, Ex Pats, then Tribes who all had there own homelands. This was how they lived all in there own area's. Soweto was a shanty town then and still is but still inhabited.

With regards to naming buildings after him I also disputed on the fact of his terrorism and that of his wife Winnie against not only white but his own people. With regards to being imprisoned he lived the life of Riley from what I have seen.

South Africa has gone from a wealthy country to a poor one so how could he be a great man

Eileen

[PanBiker]

Wealthy for who Eileen?

[Stanley]

He never claimed he was the second coming. You can't make omelettes without breaking eggs and it takes longer than twenty years to build a strong democracy. If your view is right Eileen, a hell of a lot of people got it completely wrong.

[Stanley]

News that Ronnie Biggs has died. Time to revive the famous 1979 advert that caused Austin so much trouble.

[PanBiker]

He will not get to see the two part drama starting with "The Robbers Tale" on TV tonight. Mind you he was there so he would already know the ending, might have spoilt it for him.

[Marilyn]

I enjoyed that series about Ronald Biggs. Thought it was well done.

[Cathy]

Not sure if we are talking Dollars or Pounds but they said on the news tonight that the 2.4million that was stolen would be worth 75million today. Whooo...

[PanBiker]

Pounds Cathy.

[Thomo]

Ronald Biggs was a London thug, not a latter day Robin Hood. The media coverage of his death is as expected, whereas I hope it wasn't a peaceful end.

[plaques]

Death is always quick and peaceful. Its the road to death that's the problem.

£2.4 Million to £75 Million over 50 years is just a fraction over 7% a year compound. Wish I could get that sort of interest.

[LizG]

Death is always quick and peaceful. Its the road to death that's the problem.

£2.4 Million to £75 Million over 50 years is just a fraction over 7% a year compound. Wish I could get that sort of interest.

I like the way you think.

[chinatyke]

Ronald Biggs was a London thug, not a latter day Robin Hood. The media coverage of his death is as expected, whereas I hope it wasn't a peaceful end.

Quite right. A thug and a thief who doesn't deserve any sympathy. The World is a better place without him.

He never claimed he was the second coming. You can't make omelettes without breaking eggs and it takes longer than twenty years to build a strong democracy.

I didn't know communists built democracies. He was a bad guy, a terrorist. OK, I'll admit he was badly treated, but I've no sympathy with his demise.

Old saying: don't speak ill of the dead. Apologies!

[Julie in Norfolk]

Seamus Peter O'Toole known as Spot to his friends has died aged 81.

In my distant memory is a TV chat show where Peter Sellars introduced himself as Peter O'Toole. Heck of a grin on his face when he did. I hope I am right

[Sue]

To my good friend Mike, who died in hospital in France this evening following a knee operation.RIP Mike, and our
thoughts are with Audrey

[Belle]

Sue that sounds very unexpected, how sad.

[Sue]

He was due home tomorrow. I think he must have had a heart attack, he had a heart problem, but the operation was last Friday. I had sent Audrey a jokey email about him at lunchtime and about enjoying the peace while she could, we are so shocked.

[Belle]

Oh how awful for you all, I am sure you must be.

[Wendyf]

Sorry to hear that Sue, what a shock for you.