General Good-byes And RIPs

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  • One of the great organists and choir trainers, Simon Preston has died. A lovely man and engaging raconteur - an obituary can be found here.
  • GalilitGalilit Shipmate
    Oh my goodness.
    May she truly Rest in peace and Rise in Glory
  • EigonEigon Shipmate
    I see that Dervla Murphy, the Irish travel writer, has died, aged 90.
  • MarsupialMarsupial Shipmate
    One of the great organists and choir trainers, Simon Preston has died. A lovely man and engaging raconteur - an obituary can be found here.

    I discovered on Sunday that he was also a composer - we had his Alleluyas as the organ postlude at our main mass.


  • stetsonstetson Shipmate
    Ray Liotta

    I think he was one of those actors who was more on the "indifferent" side of my spectrum. His role(sonewhat against type) as the suspucious father("layaway-schmayaway") in Blow is probably the one I remember, and like, best. Goodfellas is one of the few Scorsese movies I have no real interest in seeing again.

    I will observe that he is one of the very few, if not the only, actor to have
    played a person having his brains eaten while still conscious.
    So ya gotta give him that.
  • TelfordTelford Shipmate
    stetson wrote: »
    Ray Liotta

    I think he was one of those actors who was more on the "indifferent" side of my spectrum. His role(sonewhat against type) as the suspucious father("layaway-schmayaway") in Blow is probably the one I remember, and like, best. Goodfellas is one of the few Scorsese movies I have no real interest in seeing again.

    I will observe that he is one of the very few, if not the only, actor to have
    played a person having his brains eaten while still conscious.
    So ya gotta give him that.

    He was excellent in Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams, a superb film.

  • stetsonstetson Shipmate
    Telford wrote: »
    stetson wrote: »
    Ray Liotta

    I think he was one of those actors who was more on the "indifferent" side of my spectrum. His role(sonewhat against type) as the suspucious father("layaway-schmayaway") in Blow is probably the one I remember, and like, best. Goodfellas is one of the few Scorsese movies I have no real interest in seeing again.

    I will observe that he is one of the very few, if not the only, actor to have
    played a person having his brains eaten while still conscious.
    So ya gotta give him that.

    He was excellent in Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams, a superb film.

    Never saw it, and I don't think I knew until today that he was in it. I've seen critics blaming that movie for the demise of ironic, anti-heroic sports movies(eg. The Bad News Bears), so that would be a negative in my books.

    The writer of the novel, W.P. Kinsella, is from my home province.
  • Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
    stetson wrote: »
    I've seen critics blaming that movie for the demise of ironic, anti-heroic sports movies(eg. The Bad News Bears), so that would be a negative in my books.
    And that would be completely in the imagination of those critics in my book.

  • stetsonstetson Shipmate
    edited May 2022
    Nick Tamen wrote: »
    stetson wrote: »
    I've seen critics blaming that movie for the demise of ironic, anti-heroic sports movies(eg. The Bad News Bears), so that would be a negative in my books.
    And that would be completely in the imagination of those critics in my book.

    Well, I think you could argue that starting in the early 80s, there was a demise of anti-heroic sports movies, after about a decade's run of films like The Longest Yard, Slapshot, Fast Break, etc. One critic I read seemed to think that Field Of Dreams was a dividing point, but that's not the same thing as proving it was a cause.

    This critic also tried to link the trend to the rise of Reaganism, which is generally considered to have seen less emphasis on critical portrayals in popular culture, and more on positive patriotism. Having grown up in that era, it can be difficult to separate cause, effect, and coincidence.
  • TelfordTelford Shipmate
    stetson wrote: »
    Telford wrote: »
    stetson wrote: »
    Ray Liotta

    I think he was one of those actors who was more on the "indifferent" side of my spectrum. His role(sonewhat against type) as the suspucious father("layaway-schmayaway") in Blow is probably the one I remember, and like, best. Goodfellas is one of the few Scorsese movies I have no real interest in seeing again.

    I will observe that he is one of the very few, if not the only, actor to have
    played a person having his brains eaten while still conscious.
    So ya gotta give him that.

    He was excellent in Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams, a superb film.

    Never saw it, and I don't think I knew until today that he was in it. I've seen critics blaming that movie for the demise of ironic, anti-heroic sports movies(eg. The Bad News Bears), so that would be a negative in my books.

    The writer of the novel, W.P. Kinsella, is from my home province.

    I recommend that you watch it and make your own judgement
  • stetsonstetson Shipmate
    Telford wrote: »
    stetson wrote: »
    Telford wrote: »
    stetson wrote: »
    Ray Liotta

    I think he was one of those actors who was more on the "indifferent" side of my spectrum. His role(sonewhat against type) as the suspucious father("layaway-schmayaway") in Blow is probably the one I remember, and like, best. Goodfellas is one of the few Scorsese movies I have no real interest in seeing again.

    I will observe that he is one of the very few, if not the only, actor to have
    played a person having his brains eaten while still conscious.
    So ya gotta give him that.

    He was excellent in Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams, a superb film.

    Never saw it, and I don't think I knew until today that he was in it. I've seen critics blaming that movie for the demise of ironic, anti-heroic sports movies(eg. The Bad News Bears), so that would be a negative in my books.

    The writer of the novel, W.P. Kinsella, is from my home province.

    I recommend that you watch it and make your own judgement

    Yes, there's a reason I said "that would be a negative in my books", ie. if I watched the film and had the claims about it confirmed. I am not otherwise prepared to give a detailed critique of it.
  • I accidentally read Field of Dreams one Saturday. Truly a fine novel. It was with some trepidation that I saw the film, and, despite departing from the novel in spots, it is a very good film, indeed. Ray Liotta was very good as Shoeless Joe. He first came to my attention playing opposite Tom Hulse in Dominick and Eugene. He seemed to be working all the time, but he'll always be remembered as Henry Hill in Goodfellas.
  • Andy Fletcher, keyboardist for Depeche Mode, has died at the age of 60.
  • TelfordTelford Shipmate
    Lester Piggott died today at the age of 86. The Long Fellow was probably the greatest jockey ever.
  • stetsonstetson Shipmate
    Philip Baker Hall is now getting butter on his butt and lollipops in his mouth.

    (Sorry. I rarely watched Seinfeld, so his role as the porn producer in Boogie Nights was my first conscious introduction to the guy, and he delivered that iconic line with all the professional expertise it merited. I also really liked his small role as not-quite-cynical-enough American detective in The Talented Mr. Ripley.)
  • One of the great Welsh players of the 1970s, Phil Bennett, has died. His kick bouncing back off the posts at Stradey Park led to the famous Llanelli victory against the All Blacks in 1972. Gorffwysa mewn Tangnefedd Phil. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
  • Mark Shields, most recently one of the fairest (and funniest) of all political pundits on PBS News died today (reported in the Washington Post).
  • Ex_OrganistEx_Organist Shipmate
    edited June 2022
    The Revd Canon Philip Gardner passed away last week, aged 101. (See https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5c19801d89c172169f627856/t/62ac9ba1a30bf05223314d12/1655479202797/Parish+Notices+19+06+22.pdf)

    I was organist at a church where he was vicar many years ago.

    One of his claims to fame was serving as a naval Sub-Lieutenant alongside Lieutenant Jon Pertwee during World War 2.
  • HuiaHuia Shipmate
    I didn't know that Jon Pertwee had actually been in the Navy. I remember him from The Navy larkwhich was played on the radio here when I was quite young.
  • EigonEigon Shipmate
    I heard an interview with Jon Pertwee where he told the story about being on firewatch on top of a Naval building during the War, and being blown up, to the extent that rescuers thought he was dead, and his girlfriend at the time, a nurse, didn't recognise him!
    On a happier note, there's a story in his autobiography about him and a friend walking down Oxford Street in London in the middle of the War in captured German uniforms, just to see what would happen!
  • SojournerSojourner Shipmate
    The Revd Canon Philip Gardner passed away last week, aged 101. (See https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5c19801d89c172169f627856/t/62ac9ba1a30bf05223314d12/1655479202797/Parish+Notices+19+06+22.pdf)

    I was organist at a church where he was vicar many years ago.

    One of his claims to fame was serving as a naval Sub-Lieutenant alongside Lieutenant Jon Pertwee during World War 2.

    Leutenant in the RN ( and RAN) as opposed to Lieutenant in the British & Australian Regular Armies.

    God knows why but they can be quite pedantic about this ( as I discovered working as a ( civilian) MO working first for ARA then RAN.

    A pedantry alert, perhaps?

    RIP Jon Pertwee; one of the best

  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    I don't think Jon Pertwee was the RIP - he died in 1996.
  • Sojourner wrote: »

    Leutenant in the RN ( and RAN) as opposed to Lieutenant in the British & Australian Regular Armies.



    Not according to the Navy Lists and London Gazette in which Philip Gardner is recorded as being a Temporary Sub-Lieutenant in RNVR and Jon Pertwee as a Temporary Lieutenant, also in RNVR.
  • Leorning CnihtLeorning Cniht Shipmate
    edited June 2022
    Sojourner wrote: »

    Leutenant in the RN ( and RAN) as opposed to Lieutenant in the British & Australian Regular Armies.

    Not according to the Navy Lists and London Gazette in which Philip Gardner is recorded as being a Temporary Sub-Lieutenant in RNVR and Jon Pertwee as a Temporary Lieutenant, also in RNVR.

    The spelling is the same (Lieutenant) in all the services. The pronunciation used to differ between the services, although I gather that these days, all services would say "leftenant".

    (Older RN pronunciation was more like le'tenant, I think. Nobody in the UK forces would use a US-style lootenant pronunciation.)

    @betjemaniac can correct me...
  • Gee DGee D Shipmate

    The spelling is the same (Lieutenant) in all the services. The pronunciation used to differ between the services, although I gather that these days, all services would say "leftenant".

    (Older RN pronunciation was more like le'tenant, I think. Nobody in the UK forces would use a US-style lootenant pronunciation.)

    Lieutenant - ie, lieu tenant, holding the place of (a captain in the army etc).
  • Frank Williams, the vicar in Dad's Army has passed away: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/jun/26/frank-williams-obituary
  • TelfordTelford Shipmate
    Frank Williams, the vicar in Dad's Army has passed away: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/jun/26/frank-williams-obituary
    I read his book about Dad's army

  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Is he really the last regular cast member apart from Ian Lavender, or is the Verger still alive?
  • No - Edward Sinclair (the Verger, Mr Yeatman) died as long ago as 1977, at the age of 63.
  • Sojourner wrote: »

    Leutenant in the RN ( and RAN) as opposed to Lieutenant in the British & Australian Regular Armies.

    Not according to the Navy Lists and London Gazette in which Philip Gardner is recorded as being a Temporary Sub-Lieutenant in RNVR and Jon Pertwee as a Temporary Lieutenant, also in RNVR.

    The spelling is the same (Lieutenant) in all the services. The pronunciation used to differ between the services, although I gather that these days, all services would say "leftenant".

    (Older RN pronunciation was more like le'tenant, I think. Nobody in the UK forces would use a US-style lootenant pronunciation.)

    @betjemaniac can correct me...

    weirdly, the RAF* perhaps because it does so many exchanges with the USAF has picked up the deplorable (spoken) abbreviation of 'Flight Looey' for Flight Lieutenant.

    le'tenant is still clinging on in bits of the RN, but usually only with the sort of person that goes out of their way to say it to make a point. In general, it's leftenant across the board as you say.

    *although given it's the RAF perhaps not that weird**

    **they have habits rather than traditions

  • One of his claims to fame was serving as a naval Sub-Lieutenant alongside Lieutenant Jon Pertwee during World War 2.

    And one of Jon Pertwee's claims to fame was getting a pierhead jump from his ship just before she sailed, so that he could commence officer training. The ship in question being HMS HOOD, off to fight the Bismarck.

    I once met one of the three survivors of her 1418 crew.

  • SojournerSojourner Shipmate
    And 40 years later Amiable Spouse treated one of the surviving crew of Bismarck here in Oz….
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    No - Edward Sinclair (the Verger, Mr Yeatman) died as long ago as 1977, at the age of 63.

    Thanks, BF - I certainly didn’t realise he'd been gone that long!
  • He wasn't the first of the cast to go - James Beck (Private Walker) died in 1973...
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    I remember that - he was way too young.
  • Dame Deborah James - *bowelbabe* - has died:
    https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/jun/28/podcaster-deborah-james-dies-of-bowel-cancer-bowelbabe

    RIPARIG.

    (PS - Check your poo!)
  • AgsAgs Shipmate
    A life well-lived.

    Memory eternal 🕯
  • Ags wrote: »
    A life well-lived.

    Memory eternal 🕯

    Indeed. I don't think it's too much to say *a death well-died*...I'm sure you know what I mean.
  • TelfordTelford Shipmate
    Ags wrote: »
    A life well-lived.

    Memory eternal 🕯

    Indeed. I don't think it's too much to say *a death well-died*...I'm sure you know what I mean.
    I agree !!!

  • AgsAgs Shipmate
    Ags wrote: »
    A life well-lived.

    Memory eternal 🕯

    Indeed. I don't think it's too much to say *a death well-died*...I'm sure you know what I mean.

    Absolutely!

  • stetsonstetson Shipmate
    Sonny Barger, iconic head of the Hells Angels.

    Probably his most famous "performance" was at Altamont. Do a YouTube search on "Sonny Barger Gimme Shelter" for his classic radio interview.

    "Well done, Sonny."

  • stetsonstetson Shipmate
    edited July 2022
    Just found out the actor Joe Turkel died a few days ago. Best known for playing Lloyd, the ghostly bartender in The Shining.

    "Women. Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em."

    He was also in Kubrick's 1950s movies The Killing and Paths Of Glory, though I've never seen the former, and am not sure who he was in the latter.

    Also, apparently he was in Blade Runner, as the scientist who created the Replicants. (For some reason, I find that movie rather forgetable, despite having seen it numerous times.)
  • Patrick Watson, a short man but a towering figure of Canadian journalism, will now be dispatching from the beyond. Age, 92.
  • MarsupialMarsupial Shipmate
    That’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time. Oddly I don’t have a recollection of seeing much of his work - I think the work he was best known for was before my time - but he was already one of the biggest names in Canadian journalism by the time I was starting to pay attention to these things.
  • stetsonstetson Shipmate
    edited July 2022
    Marsupial wrote: »
    That’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time. Oddly I don’t have a recollection of seeing much of his work - I think the work he was best known for was before my time - but he was already one of the biggest names in Canadian journalism by the time I was starting to pay attention to these things.

    That's basically it for me as well. I knew about him from the time I was a high-school student in the 80s, but Seven Days had gone off the air before I was born, and all I really knew about him was he did those fake-interviews with famous historical figures, played by actors. Then he did that Democracy documentary in the late 80s, which I heard wasn't very good. (He did get to interview Qadaffi, which I think was supposed to be the highlight of the whole thing.)

    Don't think I knew until now that he had been the driving force behind the Heritage Minutes. Those were of middling quality at best, eg. Marshall McLuhan was clearly being celebrated just because he was a Canadian who became famous, not because the writers agreed with or even understood his ideas.
  • MarsupialMarsupial Shipmate
    Another important figure from that generation (though somewhat younger):

    https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/holocaust-historian-irving-abella-1.6510246
  • I recall the Democracy series as being better than stetson allows. The Gaddhafi interview was hilarious.

    In a very Canadian Moment™ I once had lunch at The Town Grill (a now gone Cabbagetown boîte that was truly excellent) one table away form Patrick Watson and Paul Gross, who was not in red serge.
  • MarsupialMarsupial Shipmate
    What?! They actually allowed him to wear anything else? :smile:

    I’m pretty sure I must have seen some of Democracy though that was a long time ago…
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