Deaths in 2024

[John Cook]

Annie Nightingale!

I know!   

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Copied from Faceache - I'm sure that many of the older members of the group will own at least one of these books, or one of many others by the same author. It may surprise you to discover that Otto von Pika was not the lesser son of a minor noble house of a forgotten European state, nor a refugee from the East, but was at the time of writing a serving British Army officer by the name of Digby Smith. Digby Smith passed away on 9 January 2024. So, raise a glass to one of the old guard of British military historians and wargamers.

[Ben Waterhouse]

Copied from Faceache - I'm sure that many of the older members of the group will own at least one of these books, or one of many others by the same author. It may surprise you to discover that Otto von Pika was not the lesser son of a minor noble house of a forgotten European state, nor a refugee from the East, but was at the time of writing a serving British Army officer by the name of Digby Smith. Digby Smith passed away on 9 January 2024. So, raise a glass to one of the old guard of British military historians and wargamers.

I believe my first bought uniform book was an Osprey Von Pivka. A prolific author, and a great loss.

[fsn]

Awww! I have so many books by both von Pivka and Smith.

One of the books that actually changed my life was Armies of thge Napoleonic Wars.

RIP, a great author and source.

[John Cook]

Read the news on The Napoleonic Wars Forum yesterday.  He was 89 apparently.
 

[Peterem]

RIP Director Norman Jewison, 97, responsible for "In the heat of the night" and "Fiddler on the Roof" among many others. I never knew he was a Canadian!

[Steve J]

Two of my all time favourite films. What a legacy and a great innings too.

[Ithoriel]

Sorry to hear he's gone. Loved many of those films though Jesus Christ Superstar is the main one I think of in connection with him.

[Peterem]

Coming fast this year...  Melanie (Safka), only 76, folk singer and veteran of Woodstock famous for "Brand New Key" and a better version of "Ruby Tuesday" than Jagger's

[Big Insect]

Carl Andre - Minimalist Pioneer Sculpture (he of 'pile of bricks' fame) has died at the age of 88.

[Ithoriel]

Coming fast this year...  Melanie (Safka), only 76, folk singer and veteran of Woodstock famous for "Brand New Key" and a better version of "Ruby Tuesday" than Jagger's

Saw her in concert - the Edinburgh audience was so .... Edinburgh that she walked off part way through the set in despair at the lack of rapport.

She tried to get some of the audience to come up on stage to sit adoringly around her feet but, alas, picked on one of our party early on in the process and he replied loudly,"Naw, yer a'right hen, ah'm only here cuz ma mates wanted tae come." Kind of set the tone for the evening.

I think what finished it for her was when she asked for suggestions for her next song and someone shouted out,"Big Yellow Taxi." Which as any fule kno is a Joni Mitchell song.

I loved her stuff and regularly listened to her, Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell among other female artistes in my twenties. Then I discovered Heavy Metal and Native American tribal music.

My musical tastes are increasingly eclectic!

[FierceKitty]

There's been little music worth listening to since the early 19th century. I have spoken.

[Last Hussar]

There's been little music worth listening to since the early 19th century. I have spoken.

Nobby speaks.

We don't listen to him...

[Ithoriel]

There's was little music worth listening to until the mid-20th century. I have spoken.

FIFY

Or to quote Gilbert and Sullivan -

Then the idiot who praises, with enthusiastic tone,
All centuries but this, and every country but his own;
....
You may put 'em on the list — you may put 'em on the list;
And they'll none of 'em be missed — they'll none of 'em be missed!

[Last Hussar]

Friend of mine is in a Beatles Tribute band - we tell him the Beatles were a Rutles Tribute band.