The Official Tribute Thread

[Kevin Farnell]

I was shocked and deeply saddened to read of the passing of Cyrille Regis at way too young an age.
I can only echo what has been said above - a great footballer! His legacy is a fairer sport open to all and enjoyed by all.
A character much loved by football fans, He will be sadly missed.
Thoughts and prayers to his wife and family.

R.I.P Cyrille

Kevin

 

[Ray Finkle]

Dolores O’Riordan, the lead singer of The Cranberries, passed away today. She was only 46

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/news...ged-46/ar-AAuJqSz?li=BBoPWjQ&ocid=mailsignout

 

[Brummiegem]

Dolories was one of my favourite female singer/songwriters of recent times.
Very sad.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Such a sad, sad loss. An incredibly talented woman with a voice that could change in an instant from 'angelic', to 'gruff and angry'.
To us, we've lost a much loved singer. But, someone has lost a partner, someone a daughter, someone a mother and someone a sister. It is to them that I offer my thoughts and prayers.

R.I.P. Dolores.

Kevin

 

[Ray Finkle]

Very sad to hear the news that Ed Doolan has passed away.

Many years ago I worked with a guy who wouldn't go a day without listening to his show, it always made me smile how Ed seemed to be able to pull out a contact number to resolve any situation. By all accounts he was a genuinely nice guy.

Rest in Peace Ed and thanks for the memories.

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/farewell-ed-doolan-aussie-born-14163692

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Very sad to hear the news that Ed Doolan has passed away.

Many years ago I worked with a guy who wouldn't go a day without listening to his show, it always made me smile how Ed seemed to be able to pull out a contact number to resolve any situation. By all accounts he was a genuinely nice guy.

Rest in Peace Ed and thanks for the memories.

Very sad to read of Ed Doolan's passing.
Whenever I used to visit my late Dad in Bloxwich, he always seemed to have the radio tuned to Ed Doolan (apart from Saturday afternoons, when it would (again) be Radio WM for the live football reports).
As you say, Mr Doolan had a great skill in being able to call up people with regard to a particular subject.
One discussion that stands out, was regarding a driver who had been caught speeding in a 30 MPH zone. The driver was demanding to know what speed the cameras were set to. Ed Doolan contacted a high ranking Police Officer and a bit of a 'ding dong' of a conversation ensued between the Offficer and the driver. The Officer (rightly so!), refused to divulge the information.
The other thing that I remember of Ed Doolan's program, was his concern with consumer rights. He always seemed to have an expert on the phone, whatever the issue.
R.I.P. Ed Doolan

Kevin

 

[TheLocalYokel]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42773347

Jimmy Armfield

I was saddened to learn today of the death of Jimmy Armfield, of Blackpool and England - a one-club man. He was 82 and had been battling cancer for some time. He was one of the players I always admired.

After his playing career finished he tried football management and attained considerable success, but probably the modern football audience will know him best as an expert radio match summariser where his quiet but well modulated voice, great knowledge of football and always fair-minded comments added much to the listener's enjoyment of the game.

He was one of the best right-backs in the world at his peak and was desperately unlucky to miss the 1966 World Cup because of injury. Many years later FIFA presented him with a winner's medal.

Jimmy Armfield was a kindly man who worked tirelessly for charitable causes. He was universally regarded as a gentleman within the game.

Condolences to his family. RIP.

 

[wolfheze]

Very sad to hear the news that Ed Doolan has passed away.

Many years ago I worked with a guy who wouldn't go a day without listening to his show, it always made me smile how Ed seemed to be able to pull out a contact number to resolve any situation. By all accounts he was a genuinely nice guy.

Rest in Peace Ed and thanks for the memories.

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/farewell-ed-doolan-aussie-born-14163692

Many memories of listening to Ed Doolan, Les Ross and Tony Butler on my Mum's Grundig Radio. Although we weren't by then living in Birmingham the radio was always tuned to BRMB.

 

[thunderchild]

R.I.P. Alice Tinker

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43183354

 

[Jerry]

Sad news! R.I.P

 

[Kevin Farnell]

R.I.P. Alice Tinker

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43183354

I'm totally shocked and deeply saddened to read this news.
She was the reason that I watched The Vicar of Dibley. How on earth she managed to keep a straight face while recording those scenes is beyond me.
For the record, 'Alice Tinker' was the character in The Vicar of Dibley. The actress we have sadly lost is Emma Chambers, taken from us at far too young an age. She also had a very succesful acting career outside of The Vicar of Dibley.
My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends.

R.I.P. Emma

Kevin

 

[Ray Finkle]

Sir Roger Bannister has passed away aged 88.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletic..._twitter&ns_source=twitter&ns_mchannel=social

 

[David_itl]

Sir Ken Dodd aged 90

https://www.manchestereveningnews.c...erpool-14397912.amp?__twitter_impression=true

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Sir Ken Dodd aged 90

https://www.manchestereveningnews.c...erpool-14397912.amp?__twitter_impression=true

I've just read this as 'breaking news' on the BBC website.
Very sad news indeed. A wonderfully talented and very funny gentleman.
I remember my Dad going to see him on stage some years ago. He performed for an hour and a half before saying that he was taking a short break but would be back. He returned to do another hour and a half.
R.I.P. Sir Ken and thanks for all the laughs!
Heaven won't get any sleep tonight - they'll be too busy crying with laughter.

Kevin

 

[Jerry]

Sad news, may he rest in peace.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Kenn Dodd, like Norman Wisdom and Bruce Forsyth and many others now no longer with us, was part of my youth. In the 1950s television was not widely watched in the UK and we only had BBC (just the one channel - BBC2 didn't arrive until 1964) in our area until 1958 when ITV through Television Wales and the West (TWW) began. Consequently, most of the entertainment was still via the wireless as it was called then.

Even into the early 60s I remember Doddy more as a radio comedian than a televisioon one although he was making his mark in the latter medium by then. Not only was he a zany and unique comedian (unique is a widely over-used word but he merited it) but he had a superb singing voice with perhaps his most famous songs being the sentimental Tears For Souvenirs* and the jolly, get-up-and-go Happiness.

*The third best-selling record of the 1960s in Britain, beaten only by two Beatles songs.

He was never offensive in his act and didn't need to use foul language, unlike so many modern so-called comedians. He was a master of the double entendre though, but used apparently so innocently that maiden aunts and the like were oblivious.

I always liked his snappy 'Beautiful Day' one-liners which invariably had those double meanings. For example:

"What a beautiful day. What a beautiful day for shoving a cucumber through the old lady's letter box and shouting that the Martians are coming".

Written down it's not that funny but he had the immaculate timing and delivery of a great comedian.

As Kevin mentioned, his stage shows could go on all night. It was said they were timed by the calendar not by the clock.

One of Britain's truly greatest ever comedy entertainers - one with the bonus of a beautiful singing voice - has sadly left us. I never saw him perform in a theatre which is a huge regret. May He Rest In Peace.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

He was never offensive in his act and didn't need to use foul language, unlike so many modern so-called comedians. He was a master of the double entendre though, but used apparently so innocently that maiden aunts and the like were oblivious.

I always liked his snappy 'Beautiful Day' one-liners which invariably had those double meanings. For example:

"What a beautiful day. What a beautiful day for shoving a cucumber through the old lady's letter box and shouting that the Martians are coming".

I completely agree about his double entendre's. They were always were delivered so that Granny could listen, but would have younger generations giggling. One that particularly stands out to me is the song 'Happiness'. Without wanting to lower the tone, when I was at school, we thought it sounded like the medical term 'a penis'.
The chorus -

'Happiness, happiness the greatest gift that I posses. I thank the Lord that I've been blessed with more than my share of happiness'.

has never been the same since

(Mods, if this is seen as offensive please delete)

As Kevin mentioned, his stage shows could go on all night. It was said they were timed by the calendar not by the clock.

One of his friends quipped on BBC News that 'his funneral would take place on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and part of Saturday'.

Kevin

 

[David_itl]

Prof. Stephen Hawking aged 76. The level of intelligence on the planet had diminished a number of notches. But it's remarkable that he was only given a couple of years to live when diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 1963

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43396008

 

[Ray Finkle]

So sad to hear about the passing of Professor Hawking

To overcome the huge challenges that he faced he was truly inspirational human being, with not just one of the most brilliant minds but also a wicked sense of humour.

As a dedicated family man this is one of his many quotes that stands out to me.

“It would not be much of a universe if it wasn’t home to the people you love.”

Rest in peace Professor.

 

[Aviador]

Very sad to hear the news Prof. Stephen Hawking has passed away.