RIP

Some more RIPs, cutting across the generations - from 31 to 98 ....

Anna Wing (1914-20130) aged 98, veteran British actress, last seen as the matriarch Lou Beale in the long-running British soap EASTENDERS. Anna had a long and varied career, and seemed to have a great old age - she lived in Great Titchfield Street, near to where my employers of 25 years moved to back in 2004, so we used to see her frequently sitting out in the local restaurants, chatting and greeting people she knew, including several of us who greeted her; that only leaves June Brown as Dot Cotton as the soap's oldest resident ...

Alan Whicker (1925-2013), aged 87. British journalist and broadcaster whose career spanned almost 60 years, one of the first of the great BBC interviewers, his interviews with the rich and famous (and infamous) and travelogues to various parts of the world got him spoofed by MONTY PYTHON and make him a well-loved British institution (his clipped moustache and blazer his trademarks) with shows like WHICKER'S WORLD.

Bernie Nolan (1960-2013) aged 52, right, one of the singing Nolan Sisters who were popular in the 1980s disco era and later. Bernie was a real trouper, with a solo career, going into acting (TV's cop show THE BILL), 
had a stint learning to sing opera where she was very good indeed (SOAPSTAR TO OPERASTAR) and lately in the news as she bravely fought a long battle against cancer.

Cory Monteith (1982-2013) aged 31. Another young actor dies in mysterious circumstances .... Cory was a mainstay of GLEE since the start, though his rather dopey Finn was often overshadowed by the more flamboyant Rachel, Kurt, Blaine, Santana, even Britney.   He will certainly be a loss to any future series.