R.I.P Thread.

​

OJ Simpson, the former American footballer who was controversially cleared of double murder, has died aged 76, his family says.

Orenthal James Simpson rose to fame as a college footballer before playing in the NFL.
In 1995, he was acquitted of the murder of his former wife Nicole Brown and a friend in a trial that gripped America.
In 2008, he was sentenced to 33 years' imprisonment on charges of armed robbery. He was released in 2017.
Simpson died of cancer on Wednesday, his family wrote on Twitter/X.
"He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren," the statement read.
Before 1994, Simpson was regarded with affection by the public, well known as a professional athlete, actor and million-dollar spokesman for several US companies.
But that year, he was arrested as a suspect in the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman. The ensuing trial gripped the nation.
The trial was one of the most notorious in 20th Century America. Prosecutors argued Simpson killed Brown in a jealous fury. Evidence presented in the trial included blood, hair and fibre tests linking Simpson to the murders.
The defence argued Simpson had been framed by police motivated by racism.
In one of the most memorable moments in the trial, prosecutors asked Simpson to wear a pair of blood-stained gloves found at the scene of the murder, but Simpson struggled to put on the gloves. The blunder led to one of Simpson's lawyers, Johnnie Cochrane, telling the jury in his closing arguments: "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit."
The jury ultimately sided with Simpson, who declared he was "absolutely 100% not guilty". The acquittal proved hugely controversial.
BBC News

At least he can rest knowing his wife's killer is dead...

Duane Eddy has died age 86

Bernard Hill has died.
What a character he created in the Boys from the Blackstuff.
RIP Yosser Hughes

Just heard that B, as you say brilliant actor

RIP Yosser Hughes

Actor Bernard Hill, best known for roles in Titanic and Lord of the Rings, has died aged 79.
He played Captain Edward Smith in the 1997 Oscar-winning film and King Théoden in the Lord of the Rings.
His breakout role was in BBC TV drama Boys from the Blackstuff, where he portrayed Yosser Hughes, a character who struggled - and often failed - to cope with unemployment in Liverpool.
He died early on Sunday morning, his agent Lou Coulson confirmed.
Tributes to Hill have been coming in since the news of his death broke.
Writing on X, Scottish musician Barbara Dickson said he was "a really marvellous actor", adding: "It was a privilege to have crossed paths with him. RIP Benny x."




Hill, who was from Manchester, was due to return to TV screens in series two of The Responder, a BBC drama starring Martin Freeman, which begins airing on Sunday.
Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, paid tribute to him, saying: "Bernard Hill blazed a trail across the screen, and his long-lasting career filled with iconic and remarkable roles is a testament to his incredible talent."
"From Boys from the Blackstuff, to Wolf Hall, The Responder, and many more, we feel truly honoured to have worked with Bernard at the BBC. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this sad time."
In Boys from the Blackstuff, Hill drew praise for his gritty portrayal of Yosser Hughes, an intense and memorable character who pleaded "Gizza job" as he sought work.
That show won a Bafta for best drama series in 1983, and in 2000 it was ranked seventh on a British Film Institute list of the best TV shows ever made.



Another of Hill's memorable BBC TV performances came in the 2015 drama series Wolf Hall, adapted from Hilary Mantel's book about the court of Henry VIII. Hill portrayed the Duke of Norfolk - an uncle of Anne Boleyn and an enemy of Cardinal Wolsey.
Hill was also much loved for his performances in Peter Jackson's epic trilogy The Lord of the Rings.
He joined the cast for the second film, 2002's The Two Towers, and returned to the franchise for 2003's The Return Of The King, which picked up 11 Oscars.
Other roles in his decades-long career included the 1976 BBC TV series I, Claudius, an appearance in 1982's Gandhi, Shirley Valentine in 1989, The Scorpion King in 2002 and 2008 Tom Cruise film Valkyrie.
Hill was meant to be at Comic Con Liverpool on Saturday, but had to cancel at the last minute, the convention said in a post on X. As news of his death broke, the organisers said on the platform they were "heartbroken" at Hill's death, and wished his family "a lot of strength".

BBC News

He was brilliant in my wife's favourite film "Shirley Valentine" a annual re-watch in our house.
But his Yosser Hughes was so good it virtually became a cult figure in its time.
RIP

Completely forgot he was in titanic.

Yosser Hughes was based on a chap who works with me Dad. His dad was a good friend of Bernard Hill and he used his life as a tough Liverpudlian as the template.

RIP Rob Burrows absolute rugby legend

Sad new Rod.



Burrow, who was 41, had lived with motor neurone disease (MND) since being diagnosed in late 2019.

The diagnosis came just two years after he retired from playing, following a stellar 17-year career that included winning eight Super League Grand Finals, three World Club Challenges and two Challenge Cups.

Burrow's death was announced by Leeds Rhinos, who called their former scrum-half "a true inspiration throughout his life whether that was on the rugby league field or during his battle with MND".

In 2022, Burrow was presented with the Helen Rollason Award at the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year ceremony, with his ex-Leeds team-mate Kevin Sinfield also recognised.

Burrow was given the award for relentless fundraising and raising awareness of MND while battling the illness himself.

Burrow spent his entire club career with Leeds and made more than 400 appearances between 2001 and 2017.

One of the most successful rugby league players in history, Burrow was made an MBE in the 2021 New Year Honours for his services to the sport and for his work in the MND community.

Burrow and his great friend Sinfield were both made CBEs in the 2024 New Year Honours. The pair have helped to raise more than £15m for MND charities since Burrow's diagnosis.

Leeds said of Burrow: "He never allowed others to define what he could achieve and believed in his own ability to do more.

"The outpouring of love and support that Rob and the whole Burrow family have received over the last four and a half years meant so much to Rob.

"In particular, the rugby league family and MND community have rallied around Rob to inspire him, thank you for your support.

"For those who knew Rob throughout his life, his determination and spirit in the face of MND over the last four and a half years came as no surprise.

"Rob never accepted that he couldn't do something. He just found his way of doing it better than anyone else.

"He will continue to inspire us all every day. In a world full of adversity. We must dare to dream."

In February, it was announced that the player of the match award at this year's Super League Grand Final will be renamed after Burrow, the first player to win the trophy twice, in 2007 and 2011.

Tributes flooded in from the rugby league world, with Super League leaders St Helens calling Burrow "a hero in every sense of the word" and Wigan Warriors saying that "his legacy will live on through those whose lives he touched, and his story will continue to inspire all".

A tribute to Burrow from the Rugby Football League said: "Since December 2019, his courage and humanity - allied to that of his family, friends and former Leeds Rhinos team-mates, led by Kevin Sinfield CBE - has transcended sport."

The MND Association, for whom Burrow became a patron in 2021, said it was "incredibly grateful to Rob and his family for helping to raise awareness of MND, and funds for the association, by sharing the details of their journey and by inspiring so many people both within the MND community and the wider public".

"In doing so much, he inspired support from so many," the charity added.

"It is testament to the strength of feeling people have for Rob that the support in his name has never wavered."

BBC News

I sold Rob his first car when he signed for Leeds and his dad Geoff too.
So so Sad his wife is a hero too used to see her take him everywhere in their adapted people carrier.
this is a sad day for Castleford Robs home town RIP

The Selecter frontman Arthur 'Gaps' Hendrickson dies aged 73 after a short illness - as ska band pays tribute to 'talented musician and absolute gentleman'​

Pauline Black OBE has paid tribute to her bandmate from The Selecter, Arthur "Gaps" Hendrickson, who died of cancer at the age of 73.
The 2-Tone band formed in Coventry in 1979 and their debut album Too Much Pressure was released a year later.
Black told the BBC: "He was extraordinary. When he used to do James Bond, I've never seen anybody as powerful on the stage. He was absolutely fantastic.
"We used to call each other the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers of ska. It really fitted in a weird way what we did."
Black described Hendrickson as a "really fine songwriter" and believed he was always thinking of his childhood in the Caribbean in St Kitts when writing music.
"I feel so much that people don't know the real Gaps," Black said. "I don't know a more humble man."
She said he was "a gentleman to everybody he ever met".

Full article - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz99872r518o?xtor=AL-72-[partner]-[bbc.news.twitter]-[headline]-[news]-[bizdev]-[isapi]&at_bbc_team=editorial&at_format=link

The Canadian actor Donald Sutherland, star of films including The Hunger Games and Don't Look Now, has died at 88 after a long illness.

British Blues pioneer John Mayall has passed away aged 90.
He introduced many talented musicians to the world with his band The Bluesbreakers including Eric Clapton and Peter Green.

A probably reasonably unknown mentor to many musical talents.
RIP

Sneedhearn said:

British Blues pioneer John Mayall has passed away aged 90.
He introduced many talented musicians to the world with his band The Bluesbreakers including Eric Clapton and Peter Green.

Click to expand...

I was lucky enough to see him in Cardiff twenty or so years ago.

Former England and Surrey batter Graham Thorpe has died aged 55, it has been announced.

Thorpe played 100 Tests for England between 1993 and 2005, as well as 82 one-day internationals.

A stylish left-handed batter, he scored 6,744 Test runs for England, including 16 centuries, at an average of 44.66.

Current England captain Ben Stokes was among those to pay tribute to Thorpe, along with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Surrey, while Michael Vaughan said his former team-mate was a "legend" who had "gone far too young".

"There seem to be no appropriate words to describe the deep shock we feel at Graham's death," the ECB said in a statement.

"More than one of England's finest-ever batters, he was a beloved member of the cricket family and revered by fans all over the world.

"His skill was unquestioned, and his abilities and achievements across a 13-year international career brought so much happiness to his team-mates and England and Surrey CCC supporters alike.

"Later, as a coach, he guided the best England men's talent to some incredible victories across all formats of the game.

"The cricket world is in mourning today. Our hearts go out to his wife Amanda, his children, father Geoff, and all of his family and friends during this unimaginably difficult time.

"We will always remember Graham for his extraordinary contributions to the sport."




Thorpe spent his entire first-class playing career at Surrey, whom he represented from 1988 to 2005.

Surrey chair Oli Slipper said Thorpe "is one of the great sons" of the county and "there is an overwhelming sadness that he will not walk through the gates of the Oval again".

Surrey chief executive Steve Elworthy added: "He achieved remarkable feats for club and country and was a hero to so many cricket fans."

Thorpe scored an unbeaten 114 in the second innings of his Test debut against Australia in 1993 and had a Test best of 200 not out, made against New Zealand in 2002.

He began coaching in Australia after retiring from playing in 2005, working with New South Wales before joining the England set-up from 2010 to 2022.

Thorpe was appointed head coach of Afghanistan in March 2022, but he was admitted to hospital with a serious illness before he could join the team.

BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew said Thorpe was a "mainstay of England's middle order throughout the 1990s" and called him "a gritty and unfussy left-hander".

Agnew added that, after it had been announced that Thorpe had been admitted to hospital in 2022 in a serious condition, "no details were given and there have been no public updates until today".

The cause of Thorpe's death has not been announced.



England captain Stokes wore a special shirt in support of Thorpe in June 2022 after the Professional Cricketers' Association said the ex-England batter was "seriously ill".

The shirt had Thorpe's name and the number 564 on the back - signifying his status as the 564th player to be capped by England.

Stokes donned the shirt at the toss for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's.

He posted a picture on social media of himself in the shirt on Monday, along with a series of heart emojis following the news about Thorpe’s death.

England batter and former captain Joe Root described Thorpe as a "hero, mentor and so much more".

Vaughan, another ex-England skipper, thanked Thorpe "for all the advice throughout my career".

Vaughan added: "You were a great player and a brilliant team-mate. You have gone far too young but you leave as an England cricket legend."

Current England opener Ben Duckett said Thorpe's death was "heartbreaking".

Duckett added on X: "He was one of my heroes growing up and I was fortunate to work with him. My thoughts go out to all of his friends and family during this tough time."

Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara described Thorpe as a "great man and legend" as he paid tribute to his fellow left-hander.

Thorpe was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year winner in 1997 and the sport's 'bible' described him as "one of England’s greatest batters" in a post on social media.

Former England spinner Shaun Udal said: "Such tragic news about Graham Thorpe, played with and against the little legend since the age of 10, great player and human being."

David Gower, a former England captain and dashing left-hander, remembered Thorpe for "how good he was in all conditions".

"One of his highlights... was the 64 not out at Karachi in 2000 where England won a series for the first time in yonks against Pakistan, in Pakistan, and they had to do it in pitch black darkness," Gower told Sky Sports.

"We up in the commentary box 80 or 90 metres away couldn't see anything live.

"Only the genius of TV cameras allowed us to see what was going on, but that was a good example of his grit, determination and will to win.

"He was very talented and what bears that out are his figures against all-comers."

Former England manager Eriksson dies aged 76​

Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has died at the age of 76.
Eriksson, the first non-British manager of the England team, led the Three Lions to the quarter-finals at three major tournaments during his five-year spell in charge between 2001 and 2006.
In January Eriksson said he had "at best" a year to live after being diagnosed with cancer.
His family said on Monday: "Sven-Goran Eriksson has passed away. After a long illness, SGE died during the morning at home surrounded by family."
The Swede managed 12 clubs, including Manchester City, Leicester, Roma and Lazio, winning 18 trophies.
Eriksson also had spells in charge of Mexico, Ivory Coast and the Philippines.
After retiring as a player at the age of 27, Eriksson began his managerial career with Degerfors in 1977 before joining fellow Swedish side Gothenburg, where he won the Swedish title, two Swedish cups and the 1982 Uefa Cup.
He then went on to enjoy two spells with Portuguese giants Benfica as well as managing Italian sides Roma, Fiorentina, Sampdoria and Lazio - where he won seven trophies including the Serie A title, two Italian Cups and the European Cup Winners' Cup.
Following his diagnosis Eriksson spent the year visiting some of his former clubs, including Lazio and Sampdoria.
In March the Swede, a lifelong Liverpool fan, helped lead a Liverpool Legends team which beat an Ajax Legends side 4-2 at Anfield.
He shared a poignant message at the end of his new documentary film 'Sven', which was released earlier this month.
He said: "I hope you will remember me as a positive guy trying to do everything he could do.
"Don't be sorry, smile. Thank you for everything, coaches, players, the crowds, it's been fantastic. Take care of yourself and take care of your life. And live it."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c1rr59g85e3o

Mixed fortunes with England​

Eriksson resigned as Lazio manager in January 2001 to succeed Kevin Keegan as England boss.
He revived a flagging 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign to secure their place at the tournament in Japan and South Korea, including a stunning 5-1 victory over Germany in Munich.
The Three Lions defeated Argentina 1-0 in the group stage at that tournament but were beaten 2-1 by eventual winners Brazil in the quarter-finals. They would also reach the last eight two years later at Euro 2004, before losing to hosts Portugal on penalties.
In January 2006, after securing England's place at that summer's World Cup, it was announced that Eriksson was to leave following the tournament in Germany despite having two years left on his contract.
No official reason was given for his departure at the time, although the Swede had come under pressure after being caught in a newspaper sting by a tabloid journalist.
England went on to reach the quarter-finals again but were beaten once more by Portugal on penalties.

BBC News