Some British R.I.P.s

Simon Ward (1941-2012). It is always saddening to see the demise of someone who was only a few years older than oneself, as I had seen Simon in that landmark 1967 production of Orton's LOOT (left) when I was 21. It is a curious career that despite some good roles never attained the heights, but according to interviews he was happy to be a working actor. He was the lead of course in Attenborough's YOUNG WINSTON in 1972, and other movies included ZULU DAWN and his role as The Duke of Buckingham in Richard Lester's MUSKETEERS films in '73 and '74. He was also in THE TUDORS in 2010. I noticed him drinking in a pub in Marylebone one lunchtime a few years ago when I worked in the area. He was very supportive too when his daughter Sophie came out as lesbian.

Angharad Rees (1948-2012), a popular television actress in the U.K., her best known role being in POLDARK, a very popular series in 1977. Both she and her ex-husband Christopher Cazenove (1943-2010) died far too young, a son of theirs was also killed in a traffic accident in 1999. She later diversified into designing jewellery, and also had a relationship with Alan Bates, before she re-married.