Departed During 2025

[llondel]

Britt Allcroft has died, aged 81. She was responsible for the TV series of Thomas the Tank Engine, watched and enjoyed by many children (and adults).

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/03/arts ... -dead.html

[Rwy in Sight]

Former PM of Greece Kostas Simitis has just died.Some members here might know his exploits as PM.

[tango15]

Former PM of Greece Kostas Simitis has just died.Some members here might know his exploits as PM.

Well, I certainly do! I must confess, I hadn't realised he was as old as that. It would be hypocritical of me to say RIP after the way he tricked us over the tank deal. A good friend of Mr B Liar I believe. I wonder if he'll go to the funeral?

[Rwy in Sight]

tango15,
Your are magically spot on in Greek affairs as usual

"I enjoyed his company and deeply respected him as a person and as a leader," said Tony Blair.

The former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair, expressed his sorrow over the death of Costas Simitis, noting the close collaboration they had during their terms.

In a statement, Blair described Costas Simitis as a kind, thoughtful, and intelligent person, with a strong commitment to Greece's interests and a deep dedication to Europe's prosperity.

Blair pointed out that, although Simitis came from the traditional left, he recognized the need for modernization and acknowledged that the values of democratic socialism had to be applied differently in the 21st century.

"I enjoyed his company and deeply respected him as a person and as a leader," he stated characteristically.

The former prime minister concluded his statement by expressing his sincere condolences to the family, friends, and country of the deceased.
Tony Blair Institure


It is surprising how he aligned his views and political preference with Germany and not UK despite having studied there and meeting his wife. He recently lost his brother who helped him with several choice.

For those not understanding this exchange here, he was PM of Greece when a serious stand-off took place between Greece and Turkey leading to the largest weapons purchase program (yet very poorly planned) of Greece. It ended with a plethora of different types of a similar system for instance four Air-Cushioned Landing Geaft two from Russia two from Ukraine - with little regard to maintenance provisions.

[tango15]

It is surprising how he aligned his views and political preference with Germany and not UK despite having studied there and meeting his wife. He recently lost his brother who helped him with several choice.

I believe that his brother, with whom he was very close, lived in Germany, which, we were told at the time, had a lot to do with his business style.

[PHXPhlyer]

Peter Yarrow, folk singer of Peter, Paul and Mary fame, dies at 86
Paul Stookey, 87, is the last surviving member of the group; Mary Travers was 72 when she died in 2009.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/pe ... rcna186621

Folk singer Peter Yarrow — writer of the timeless classic "Puff the Magic Dragon" and one-third of the legendary 1960s trio Peter, Paul and Mary — died Tuesday, a family representative said.

He was 86 and had been diagnosed with bladder cancer four years ago.

Yarrow died in New York City with loved ones by his side, publicist Ken Sunshine confirmed to NBC News.

“Our fearless dragon is tired and has entered the last chapter of his magnificent life. The world knows Peter Yarrow the iconic folk activist, but the human being behind the legend is every bit as generous, creative, passionate, playful, and wise as his lyrics suggest,” daughter Bethany Yarrow said in a statement.

Yarrow's death follows the 2009 passing of 72-year-old Mary Travers, leaving Noel Paul Stookey, 87, as the last surviving member of Peter, Paul and Mary.

The trio's songs were part of the soundtrack for the civil rights and anti-Vietnam War movements. Yarrow co-wrote the group’s most enduring song, “Puff the Magic Dragon,” based on a poem by the late Lenny Lipton.

The trio joined other notable acts of the time, including Joan Baez and Bob Dylan, at the 1963 March on Washington when the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

They came to Washington that day at the invitation of Harry Belafonte.

"At the time, the country was saying a pledge of allegiance, 'With liberty and justice for all,' but it was fatuous because it wasn’t for all," Yarrow would say years later.

"People of Color did not have justice. They did not have freedom. They couldn't vote. In Washington, D.C., if you were a person of color, you couldn't use a public bathroom. You couldn't use the water fountain unless it said 'for colored only.' So when Peter, Paul and Mary were approached by Harry Belafonte, we, of course, said yes. We were well prepared to sing what we sang."

Other hits by the trio included "Blowin' in the Wind," "Leaving On A Jet Plane," "Lemon Tree" and "Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.”


Stookey said growing up as an only child, he never knew what it was like to have a brother until meeting Yarrow. They were best men at each other's weddings.

"He was a loving ‘uncle’ to my three daughters. And, while his comfort in the city and my love of the country tended to keep us apart geographically, our different perspectives were celebrated often in our friendship and our music," Stookey said in a statement.

"I was five months older than Peter — who became my creative, irrepressible, spontaneous and musical younger brother — yet at the same time, I grew to be grateful for, and to love, the mature-beyond-his-years wisdom and inspiring guidance he shared with me like an older brother. Politically astute and emotionally vulnerable, perhaps Peter was both of the brothers I never had … and I shall deeply miss both of him."

Yarrow kept a relatively low profile later in life, following his 1970 conviction for molesting a 14-year-old girl in a Washington D.C. hotel room in 1969.

He spent three months behind bars and was later pardoned by President Jimmy Carter just before his term ended in 1981.

The assault permanently stained Yarrow's reputation, particularly in the Me Too era, as he was regularly disinvited from events once his name became known as a performer guest.

Yarrow didn't dispute his acts.

“I fully support the current movements demanding equal rights for all and refusing to allow continued abuse and injury — most particularly of a sexual nature, of which I am, with great sorrow, guilty,” Yarrow said in a statement to the New York Times, following his dis-invitation to a 2019 festival in Binghamton, New York.

“I do not seek to minimize or excuse what I have done and I cannot adequately express my apologies and sorrow for the pain and injury I have caused in this regard.”

Yarrow is survived by his wife Marybeth, son Christopher, daughter Bethany and granddaughter Valentina.

Yarrow's family asked for fans to make donations, in his honor, to be made to the non-profit, anti-bullying campaign Operation Respect.

"Driven by a deep belief that a more compassionate and respectful world is possible, my father has lived a cause driven life full of love and purpose," Bethany Yarrow said. "He always believed, with his whole heart, that singing together could change the world. Please don’t stop believing in magic dragons. Hope dies when we stop believing, stop caring, and stop singing."

PP

[PHXPhlyer]

Sam Moore, who sang 'Soul Man' in Sam & Dave duo, dies at 89 due to surgery complications
Moore, who influenced musicians including Michael Jackson, Al Green and Bruce Springsteen, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/obituaries ... rcna187242

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Sam Moore, the surviving half and higher voice of the 1960s duo Sam & Dave that was known for such definitive hits of the era as “Soul Man” and “Hold On, I’m Comin,’” has died. He was 89.

Publicist Jeremy Westby said Moore died Friday morning in Coral Gables, Florida, due to complications while recovering from surgery. No additional details were immediately available.

Moore, who influenced musicians including Michael Jackson, Al Green and Bruce Springsteen, was inducted with Dave Prater into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.

At the Memphis, Tennessee-based Stax Records, Moore and Prater were second only to Otis Redding. They transformed the “call and response” of gospel music into a frenzied stage show and recorded some of soul music’s most enduring hits, which also included “You Don’t Know Like I Know,” “When Something is Wrong With My Baby” and “I Thank You.”

Most of their hits were written and produced by the team of Isaac Hayes and David Porter and featured the Stax house band Booker T. & the MGs, whose guitarist Steve Cropper received one of music’s most famous shoutouts when Sam & Dave called “Play it, Steve” midway through “Soul Man.”

Like many ‘60s soul acts, Sam & Dave faded after the 1960s. But “Soul Man” hit the charts again in the late 1970s when the Blues Brothers, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd recorded it with many of the same musicians. Moore had mixed feelings about the hit becoming associated with the “Saturday Night Live” stars, remembering how young people believed it originated with the Blues Brothers.

In 2008, the movie “Soul Men” depicted a pair of aging, estranged singers who bore more than a little resemblance to Sam & Dave. Moore lost a lawsuit claiming the resemblance was too close.

He also spent years suing Prater after Prater hired a substitute and toured as the New Sam & Dave. Prater died in a 1988 car crash in Georgia.

Moore also pressed legal claims that the record industry had cheated him out of retirement benefits. Moore and other artists sued multiple record companies and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists in 1993.

Moore told The Associated Press in 1994 that he joined the legal effort after learning, despite his million-selling records, his pension amounted to just $2,285, which he could take as a lump sum or in payments of $73 monthly.

“Two thousand dollars for my lifetime?” Moore said then. “If you’re making a profit off of me, give me some too. Don’t give me cornbread and tell me it’s biscuits.”

Moore wrote the song “Dole Man,” modeled on “Soul Man,” for Republican Bob Dole’s presidential campaign in 1996. In 2017, he was among the few entertainers who performed for Republican President Donald Trump’s inaugural festivities. Eight years earlier, Moore had objected when Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s campaign used the song “Hold On, I’m Comin’.”

Moore was born Oct. 12, 1935, in Miami and got his start singing in church.

He and Prater performed in soul and R&B clubs in the 1950s, but didn’t meet until 1961 in Miami. Moore helped coach Prater on the lyrics of a song and they quickly became a popular local duo. In 1965, after signing with Atlantic Records, producer Jerry Wexler sent them to the label’s Stax subsidiary in Memphis.

Moore and Prater argued often and Moore told the AP in 2006 that a drug habit, which he kicked in 1981, played a part in the band’s troubles and later made entertainment executives leery of giving him a fresh start. The duo broke up in 1970 and neither had another major hit.

He married his wife, Joyce, in 1982, and she helped him get treatment for his addiction that he credited with saving his life.

“I did a lot of cruise ships, I did a lot of oldies shows,” during those struggles, he said, adding that he once opened for a group of Elvis impersonators.

“That’s funny to think back to it now. And I did a lot of shows where if I did a show with an oldie show, I had to actually audition,” he said. “But you know what? You keep your mouth shut and you get up there and you sing as hard and perform as hard as you can, and get the little money and go on about your business and try and pay those bills. I’m laughing about it now, but at that time, man, it was really serious.”

Moore kept recording and singing. He was a frequent performer at the Kennedy Center Honors and performed for presidents, including Obama.

Moore is survive by his wife, Joyce, daughter, Michell, and two grandchildren.

PP

[FD2]

Thanks pp. For those of us of a certain age:

[FD2]

Tony Slattery

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radi ... art-attack

[Ex-Ascot]

I know the name but can't remember any of his work. Don't think £4,000 a week on cocaine did much for his ticker though.

[FD2]

Here you are then, sorted:

[PHXPhlyer]

Brewers announcer Bob Uecker passes away at 90; team "heartbroken"

https://www.fox10phoenix.com/sports/bre ... eartbroken





MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee Brewers announced on Thursday, Jan. 16 that Brewers icon and Baseball Hall of Famer Bob Uecker has passed away at the age of 90.

Salute to Bob Uecker
What they're saying:
Reaction to the passing of Bob Uecker will come from around Wisconsin, the nation and the world. Mr. Baseball touched many, many lives.

Milwaukee Brewers

"Today, we take on the heaviest of burdens. Today, we say goodbye to our beloved friend, Bob Uecker.

"Ueck was the light of the Brewers, the soundtrack of our summers, the laughter in our hearts, and his passing is a profound loss. He was the heart and soul of Wisconsin and a dear friend. Bob loved people; his presence warmed every room and he had a way of welcoming all of us into his world as if we were lifelong friends.

"Saying goodbye to Bob shakes us all. He was so much more than a Milwaukee Brewers icon. He was a national treasure. Bob entertained us with his words and storytelling, so it is no surprise that his passing now leaves us at a loss for our own words.

"There is no describing the impact Ueck had on so many, and no words for how much he was loved. We are left with a giant void in our hearts, but also remember the laughter and joy he brought to our lives throughout the years."


Commissioner Emeritus of Major League Baseball and former Brewers Owner, Allan H. "Bud" Selig

"I am heartbroken with the loss of my dear lifelong friend, Bob Uecker. I can’t begin to describe how much he meant to me, let alone what this loss is for Brewers fans, the state of Wisconsin and countless others worldwide.

"Bob had the easiest way of making others feel at ease, share a laugh and always left people feeling a little better. Nobody was his equal.

"I am so grateful that Bob’s friendship was a constant presence throughout most of my life. For over fifty years, rarely did a day pass where we missed a conversation, a sharing of stories, and countless laughs. That cannot be replaced and is a giant loss, but I am lucky to have experienced that kind of enduring friendship.

"Sue and I are thinking of Judy, Bob’s children Sue Ann and Bob Jr., and all of Bob’s family during what is a difficult time for all of us."

Statement from the Uecker family

"It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the passing of Bob. To many, he was an announcer and entertainer whose humor and voice transcended the game, but to us he was so much more.

"Bob faced a private battle with small cell lung cancer since early 2023, which he met with the same strength and resilience that defined him. Even in the face of this challenge, his enthusiasm for life was always present, never allowing his spirit to falter.

"He brought joy to countless listeners through his wit, charisma, and love for baseball, Milwaukee, and all of Wisconsin, creating a legacy that will forever be cherished. While his contributions to the game are noteworthy, it is his kindness, humility, and love for family and friends that we will hold closest to our hearts.

"We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support during this difficult time as we grieve and celebrate the man we were so lucky to call ours."

The Milwaukee Brewers will announce details at a later date for a public celebration of Bob Uecker’s life and unparalleled impact.

Bob Uecker touched our hearts
The backstory:
Known affectionately as 'Mr. Baseball', professional player, broadcaster, actor and comedian Bob Uecker was born on January 26th, 1934 in Milwaukee.

Uecker grew up playing baseball and watching the minor league Milwaukee Brewers play at Borchert Field.

"Actually was a pitcher when I was playing in the sandlots in Milwaukee. I actually got a tryout from the Braves," Uecker said. "They had a guy down there. A pitching coach. He is standing next to me and I am throwing for about 15 or 20 minutes. And he finally said, 'now let me see your good fastball'. This is a true story. And I said, I have been throwing my good fastball. And then he said, 'well then I recommend you get a job'. That is what he told me. I saw him years later in spring training once when I finally got to the big leagues. I asked him if he remembered me. He said no. But I switched from pitching to catching after that when he told me to get a job.

As a catcher, Uecker signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Braves in 1959. He made it to the majors with the organization in 1962.

Uecker also played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves during his six-year career. Known as a defensive catcher, he finished with a career batting average of just 200. It was after his playing days that he became a national figure.

In 1970, Uecker was booked on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson. With his self-deprecating humor, he made over 100 appearances. Carson is the one who gave him the nickname, Mr. Baseball.

"I tried to stay around, oh maybe one, two home runs a year. Maybe three or four runs batted in. Because when you get up in that category the next year they are going to expect the same thing from you or even more," Uecker said.

In 1971, Uecker came home. He began calling games for the Milwaukee Brewers radio broadcast – something he did until his death.

"I went right from playing baseball upstairs to work with Merle Harmon and Tom Collins," Uecker said.

Later in the 1970s, Uecker started calling games on TV with Monday Night Baseball on ABC. He was also seen in several Miller Light All-Star commercials which led to other acting gigs.

"As I was saying. I love being on the road with these guys," Uecker said.

In the beginning of 1985, Uecker starred in the ABC sitcom, Mr. Belvedere. The show ran for six seasons.

In 1987 and 1988, Uecker appeared as a guest ring announcer for Wrestle Mania III and IV – something that led to him being inducted into the WWE Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Uecker also made the jump to the Big Screen. He played Harry Doyle, an announcer in the Major League movies.

Uecker was also part of network broadcast for World Series games in 1981, 1995, and 1997. But even with his nationwide appeal and success in Hollywood, Uecker returned to Milwaukee to call season after season for the Brewers.

"I enjoy making people laugh. Whether it be at my expense, I don't worry about stuff like that. I love my job. I making other people feel good," Uecker said. "When you sit down and tell stories about stuff like that years ago, I mean you get to laughing. You really do."

In 2003, Uecker received the Ford C. Frick Award – bestowed annually by the Baseball Hall of Fame to a broadcaster for major contributions to baseball. In typical Uecker style, he brought out the laughs during his induction speech.

In 2010, Uecker had a couple of health scares. In April, he had heart surgery -- returning to the booth in July. Then in October, Uecker had to have a second surgery to repair a tear at the sight of his valve replacement because of a staph infection. Over the last several seasons, Uecker reduced his broadcast schedule, cutting back on many of the road trips.

"I realized that it is that time when you gotta start thinking about something else to do. You know, maybe I will be calling slow pitch softball games at Village at Manor Park, I don't know," Uecker said.

There are plenty of Uecker tributes around Milwaukee's ballpark. The Brewers placed a number 50 in their Ring of Honor. His name is also on the Braves Wall of Honor. There is a Uecker statue outside. In 2014, the team put up one of him inside behind home plate sitting on the top level, an homage to his Miller Light commercial.

"When I first heard about this project I turned it down. I was under the impression that they wanted me to work from up there," Uecker said.

Bob Uecker will be remembered as the voice of summer and baseball.

"Sooner or later everybody has got to go. You know, I don't know when my dirt bath is going to come. But sooner or later you got a lawn mower on top of you," Uecker said. "I don't care what it is. It just happens. That is the way it is. There is nothing you can do about it. And I am going to try and hang around until I can't do it anymore."

RIP Ueck.

PP

[Woody]

Former Scotland, Manchester United and Manchester City striker Denis Law - the only Scottish player to have won the Ballon d'Or - has died at the age of 84.
The man dubbed 'The King' and 'The Lawman' spent 11 years at Old Trafford, his 237 goals in 404 appearances placing him third in United's history behind Wayne Rooney and Bobby Charlton.

[Karearea]

David Roberts McMurtry, mechanical engineer and businessman, born 5 March 1940; died 9 December 2024

In engineering, quantity production is possible only with fine, repeatable measurements. Starting from a problem in aerospace, David McMurtry, who has died aged 84, did much to advance the scientific study of measurement – metrology – and so facilitated hi-tech mass production in many fields.

While working for Rolls-Royce in 1972 at its Filton factory, near Bristol, on the Olympus engines used in the Concorde supersonic airliner, McMurtry became frustrated with the foibles of the existing coordinate measuring machines (CMMs). One morning he arrived at work with a home-modified measuring probe that could cope with the complex task of properly measuring the twisting aerofoils of the Olympus fan blades – data needed to ensure that engine reached the required performance.

To make these measurements was tiresome. The probe needed to successively touch the object being measured at many different points in order to map its form. Often the probe would bend or break, or the object being measured would move, and days’ worth of measurements would be lost.

McMurtry’s invention was to create a more sensitive spring-loaded probe that worked by breaking an electrical contact. This electrical connection could then be used to control the CMM and capture the data point, considerably simplifying and speeding up the whole process. Prior to this, CMMs were expensive, and mainly used by standards laboratories like the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), or hi-tech companies like Rolls-Royce who could afford the high overheads inherent in such systems. His idea changed CMMs from instruments of last resort to ones widely used globally in manufacturing workshops.

This key invention, the trigger probe, led to a revolution in the measurement of complex three-dimensional objects like turbine blades, enabling the accurate measurement of machined components and finished assemblies. The resulting advance in manufacturing technology provided a secure funding stream for a host of allied technologies that underscore the role of precise measurement in our increasingly technological world.

It was only when outside interest prompted McMurtry, with colleague and future business partner, John Deer, to consider directly supplying their probes that they stumbled on their true monetary value. The device proved so profitable that it funded the establishment of a world-leading supplier of metrology equipment, Renishaw plc, which turned over £691m last year and employs more than 5,000 people worldwide.

The company went on innovate with additive manufacturing, or metal 3D printing. One of its applications lies in maxillofacial reconstruction where part of an injured person’s facial bones have been lost. A computerised tomography (CT) scan is used to create a titanium replacement with a foam-like inner structure to mimic actual bone so the implant will integrate into the facial tissues more effectively.

The medical products division has developed a machine that can accurately position sensors deep within the brain to both monitor and stimulate areas associated with seizures. This offers the prospect of minimally invasive treatment for epilepsy.

Renishaw’s measuring tools are used in the manufacture of the latest cutting-edge products – semiconductors, display screens, solar cells, aircraft and aero-engines among others – anywhere where the most precise components are required. For instance, in a mobile phone, McMurtry should be thanked for the case, the screen and even the packaging of the electronics that hide behind it.

This is a logical progression for a country which was one of the first to industrialise but no longer has the low-cost labour base to compete in high-volume industrial production. Metrology was pioneered in Britain: from 1800 the great engineer Henry Maudslay developed ultra-precise measurement, and the Science Museum in London displays today a version of his bench micrometre that he nicknamed “the lord chancellor” – the ultimate court of appeal for measurement in his works.

Renishaw exports more than 95% of its production and manufactures primarily in the UK, mainly centred around South Gloucestershire and Cardiff with additional capabilities in Dublin, Stuttgart and Pune. The company has never outsourced manufacture, preferring to perfect processes at its New Mills HQ campus at Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire.

Born in Dublin, David was the son of Margaret (nee Plowman) and Frederick McMurtry. After leaving Mountjoy school in 1958 he moved to Britain, and embarked on an apprenticeship with Bristol Aero Engines, later Bristol-Siddeley Engines, which in 1966 was purchased by Rolls-Royce.

Once he and Deer had started Renishaw, he served as chief executive until 2018, and executive chairman until 2024. He was knighted in 2001.

That was also the year that he got planning permission for Swinhay House, near Wotton-under-Edge, a £30m futuristic home with a dancefloor that can change into a swimming pool, a winter garden and a viewing tower. As a side interest, he founded McMurtry Automotive, and the McMurtry Spéirling electric single-seater car holds the current Goodwood festival of speed hill-climb record.

A quiet, modest and polite man, McMurtry saw his wealth as a means for pushing the boundaries of engineering. At lunchtime he could be found queueing with the rest of the employees in the canteen, paying like everyone else and sitting chatting to fellow engineers.

In 1966 he married Terry (Teresa) Adams. She survives him, along with their children, Richard, Ben and Yvette.

Guardian: Sir David McMurtry obituary