Culture Icons... R.I.P

geordief said:
You're as bad as he is (....and Sarkus too!)
It is Widdecombe.

It is turning intriguing now with the "Terror" investigation.Very Agatha Christie.

My first thoughts , even before this change in the investigation was that it might be Putin sticking his oar in to try and disrupt/demoralise the British Political system.

Ditto with Graham ,but for different reasons.(a favour and a message for Trump?) It is his modus operandi as we well know.

Not sure how reliable are any medical authorities are in America when it comes to these sorts of cases.

Airy speculation of course but with Putin (and indeed, Trump) no beneft of the doubt is due.
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Apologies Miss Widdecombe wherever you are. My guess is that it is some crazy who has seen her on TV.
She is 78 FFS, a Tory defector to a reactionary party. What difference was she going to make? To anything?
Now if someone offed Burnham then that is a different story.

Just to be clear, I don't want anyone to off anyone, that is not how we do things in England.
 
Pinball1970 said:
Apologies Miss Widdecombe wherever you are. My guess is that it is some crazy who has seen her on TV.
She is 78 FFS, a Tory defector to a reactionary party. What difference was she going to make? To anything?
Now if someone offed Burnham then that is a different story.

Just to be clear, I don't want anyone to off anyone, that is not how we do things in England.
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The Daily Mail (I haven't read it or searched it ) have apparently** been "privy" to inside information which clains the suspect had "Russian Communist" literature in the house.

Whatever that means and whether or not it is true.

A grim murder and undeserved.I anticipate a professional investigation as a matter of course.


**I saw this claimed this morning on anither website and have not tried to verify it,but it might not surprise me (the Daily Mail would have to have a source in the police or from one of the neighbours)

Edit : this link was in the BBC "In the Papers" Round Up
www.dailymail.com

Ann Widdecombe 'murder' suspect had communist literature at home

In a dramatic escalation, counter terrorism officers yesterday took over the investigation into the killing of the former Tory minister.
www.dailymail.com www.dailymail.com
 
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geordief said:
You're as bad as he is (....and Sarkus too!)
It is Widdecombe.

It is turning intriguing now with the "Terror" investigation.Very Agatha Christie.

My first thoughts , even before this change in the investigation was that it might be Putin sticking his oar in to try and disrupt/demoralise the British Political system.

Ditto with Graham ,but for different reasons.(a favour and a message for Trump?) It is his modus operandi as we well know.

Not sure how reliable are any medical authorities are in America when it comes to these sorts of cases.

Airy speculation of course but with Putin (and indeed, Trump) no beneft of the doubt is due.
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Seems Graham’s aorta blew up. You can get a scan for abdominal aortal aneurysm on the NHS. I had such a scan about a decade ago. Funny that he seems not to have been checked, unless it is something that can occasionally come out of the blue.

Widdecombe seems an odd target for a terrorist hit. Weird old biddy but hardly of much political significance these days. I remember her from the Oxford Union. She was weird already then, with that characteristic ghastly voice. But I can’t think why any terrorist organisation would be interested in her. Perhaps more likely a lone nutter. Anyway, we’ll see, no doubt.
 
exchemist said:
Seems Graham’s aorta blew up. You can get a scan for abdominal aortal aneurysm on the NHS. I had such a scan about a decade ago. Funny that he seems not to have been checked, unless it is something that can occasionally come out of the blue.

Widdecombe seems an odd target for a terrorist hit. Weird old biddy but hardly of much political significance these days. I remember her from the Oxford Union. She was weird already then, with that characteristic ghastly voice. But I can’t think why any terrorist organisation would be interested in her. Perhaps more likely a lone nutter. Anyway, we’ll see, no doubt.
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"Someone on the internet" claimed that Russia (KGB) has expertise in organising heart attacks that seem "genuine"

Maybe a burst aorta can be "faked".(just asking questions ;) )

Yes that voice was just one step down from psychopathic.Quite a performance going on in her head.She was lucky she was materially successful.I don't know how she would have coped with adversity and/or being an unknown.
 
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Pinball1970 said:
The film looks interesting, I will have to check it out.
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I saw it. My overall impression was not good. Well executed and acted, but the overall themes seemed to be all-men-are-beasts and a sort of very female wallowing in victimhood. But it was many years ago. Perhaps I might have a different impression now.
 
geordief said:
"Someone on the internet" claimed that Russia (KGB) has expertise in organising heart attacks that seem "genuine"

Maybe a burst aorta can be "faked".(just asking questions ;-)
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Shouldn’t think so. It’s bloody obvious - literally - if your aorta has blown up. Blood everywhere inside.
 
exchemist said:
I saw it. My overall impression was not good. Well executed and acted, but the overall themes seemed to be all-men-are-beasts and a sort of very female wallowing in victimhood. But it was many years ago. Perhaps I might have a different impression now.
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Not my favorite Sam Neill outing - seems like the guys who play nasty characters (see also his role as the vile Major Campbell in Peaky Blinders) are often the nicest people IRL.

Graham died indirectly from spinal removal around 2021.
 
So, farewell then, Sir Garfield (Garry) Sobers, about the the best cricketer in history: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jul/17/west-indies-cricket-great-sir-garry-sobers-dies

He put the fear of God into England sides in test matches, but was just so damned good that it was a joy to watch him even while your country was being thrashed by the West Indies. He played in the days when one could watch cricket on terrestrial TV, before it sold its soul and became commercialised out of recognition. Here he is in action - no helmets in those days - at Lords in 1973:

And here's a little story about how Sobers sorted out Dennis Lillee, Australia's fearsome fast bowler. Bowled him a bouncer, then an easy one, at which Lillee swung angrily.......and was promptly out, caught. Hahaha.
 
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exchemist said:
So, farewell then, Sir Garfield (Garry) Sobers, about the the best cricketer in history: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jul/17/west-indies-cricket-great-sir-garry-sobers-dies

He put the fear of God into England sides in test matches, but was just so damned good that it was a joy to watch him even while your country was being thrashed by the West Indies. He played in the days when one could watch cricket on terrestrial TV, before it sold its soul and became commercialised out of recognition. Here he is in action - no helmets in those days - at Lords in 1973:
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Yes ,great to watch.Was it between him and Bradman at the time?

I never saw Bradman "live".I expect he had the better batting averages,though

I seem to remember Sobers could bowl a few decent overs too.

He was a left hander and Bradman was right handed.
 
geordief said:
Yes ,great to watch.Was it between him and Bradman at the time?

I never saw Bradman "live".I expect he had the better batting averages,though

I seem to remember Sobers could bowl a few decent overs too.

He was a left hander and Bradman was right handed.
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Bradman played before the war.
 
Sobers sounds like the cricket equivalent of Willie Mays or Joltin' Joe D. (Or the sometimes overlooked Roberto Clemente, when "5-tool" masters are being listed; home runs are flashy, but guys like Clemente sent a lot of people home with mass quantities of doubles and triples.)

Anyway, in US beisbol, it doesn't really come down to two players who might vie for a GOAT label. Some people just say Mickey Mantle because he was so strong in every aspect of the game, but then that could describe a dozen players easily and some of them less fragile than Mantle.

In any case, given the much higher levels of skill required for American baseball, it would be hard to compare Sobers or Bradman to any of our greatest. :p
 
Pinball1970 said:
This is nice, in colour too!

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Very good.I don't think I have seen an action like that with another cricketer.

It is so undramatic and controlled.Like he is swatting flies (which is actually difficult,of course)

Gary Sobers was entirely different.
So elegant,like a Prince.

Bradman ,the executioner.
 
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