Daryl Lees © 2009

This page was last updated: 28/04/2009

***   FAMOUS PEOPLE AND CELEBRITIES WHO ARE NO LONGER WITH US   ***

The death has been announced of the former Governor of the Bank of England, Eddie George, created a lord in 2004, at the age of 70-years from a long term battle with cancer.

He was the first Governor who oversaw the independence of the Bank of England, and he was affectionately known as 'Steady Eddie' because of his abilities in the banking world.

The death has been announced of TV Presenter and former Liberal politician Sir Clement Freud - he was 84-years-old.

Born into a famous family, his grandfather was psycho-analyst Sigmond Freud. He also has a famous daughter.

One of the things I remember about him was his appearance in adverts for a certain dog food, which he did for a number of years as well as being a politician for the former Liberal Party, before it converged into the Liberal-Democrat Party.

He is survived by his wife, actress Jill Freud, five children and 17 grandchildren

It has been announced that Jade Goody has died of cervical cancer today at the age of 27-years-old. She leaves her husband, two sons and her mother.

Jade became famous after being a contestant on Channel 4's reality programme Big Brother. She only came fourth, but her flamboyant and controversial nature made her catch headline news.  She went on to launch her own perfume, a biography and her own TV show, before appearing in Celebrity Big Brother, where she caused more controversy, being accused of racism after falling out with fellow Bollywood contestant Shelpa Shitty. After the storm calmed down, she then appeared in India's version of Big Brother and this was where she was informed that she had cervical cancer. She immediately left and came back to Great Britain for treatment for the condition.

The death has been announced of actress Natasha Richardson, after a fatal skiing accident two days ago. She was 45-years-old and was married to actor Liam Neeson and the daughter of actress Vanessa Redgrave.

Her acting career was mainly stage-acting, however she has appeared in quite a few films as well, her most famous was the remake of the film The Parent Trap.

She leaves her husband Liam Neeson, two children and her mother Vanessa Redgrave.

The death has been announced today of the actress Wendy Richard, who was 65-years-old and had been fighting a long battle with cancer.

She was famous for two roles in her career. As Miss Brahms in the cult comedy classic Are You Being Served?and also as Pauline Fowler in the BBC soap Eastenders.  She was also the backing voice in the song from the 1960s Come Outside.  She also starred in some of the Carry On films that were released as well.

She married, for the third time, in October 2008, after finding out that her cancer was terminal, and her husband was with her when she passed away in a London clinic today.

The death has been announced today of the superb artist and children's TV presenter Tony Hart, who was 83-years-old.

His gentlemanly manner, and his ability of letting you enjoy watching his style of work and helping you get involved in it, won many admirers over the generations of children that have grown up with him.  His best-known programmes were Vision On and Take Hart.  He also created the moulded character of Morph, from which the word morphing originated from.

The death has been announced of Sir John Mortimer, the famous author and barrister, who has died at the age of 85-years-old after a long illness.

His famous writing led to the cult TV series Rumpole of the Bailey, and also for other famous plays.  He was also a noted barrister, who worked on getting the book by Lord Byron called Lady Chatterley's Lover off of censorship in Great Britain.

The death has been announced of the actor Patrick Magoohan, who has died at the age of 80-years-old, after a long illness.

He appeared in quite a few programmes and films, but he was famous for his role as No: 7 in the cult-hit series The Prisoner.

The death has been announced of the actress and singer Eartha Kitt - who has died at the age of 81-years-old after a very long battle with cancer.

Her trademark voice, which was used to good affect when she played the role of Cat Woman in the 1960s series Batman.  She had quite a deep voice and this made her a wonderful singer too - with her most famous song, Santa Baby, becoming quite popular.

The death has been announced of the famous author and playwright Harold Pinter, who has died of cancer at the age of 78-years-old.

He has wrote many famous plays, the one sticking out in my mind is that called The Caretaker.

14 December 2008 (Kathy Staff - Comedy Actress - 80 years old)

The death has been announced of comedy actress Kathy Staff, who has died after a long illness at the age of 80 years old.

Her most famous role was as Nora Batty in the longest-comedy programme ever made, Last of the Summer Wine.  She also starred as Doris Luke in the old TV soap Crossroads. She also appeared and starred in it when it was re-launched a few years ago, but it never took off again and was scrapped a couple of years later.  She also starred with the late comedy legend Ronnie Barker in the great BBC comedy Open All Hours as gossipy customer Mrs. Blewitt.

16 November 2008 (Reg Varney - Comedy Actor - 92 years old)

The death has been announced of comedy actor Reg Varney, who has died at the age of 92 years after a short illness in the nursing home where he was living.

he has appeared in quite a few films, but is famous for his role as 'Stan' in popular 60s and 70s sit-com called On The Buses.  Its popularity was so good that spin-off films were also made of it as well.

27 September 2008 (Paul Newman - Hollywood Actor - 83 years old)

The death has been announced of Hollywood legend actor Paul Newman.  He was 83-years-old and has died of cancer.

His famous films were Cool Hand Luke, Sundance Kid and The Hustle.  Apparently he won three Academy Awards (Oscars) and he was a very charitable gentleman as well - with no heirs and graces and no brashness.