RIP continued

Maureen O'Hara (1920-2015), at the grand age of 95. See my post on her from last week, below, for an appreciation ....  

I was watching THE PARENT TRAP on a cable channel just yesterday, bringing back so many childhood memories.

Chantal Akerman (1950-2015, aged 65, Belgian filmmaker, a leading light in experimental European cinema,  best known perhaps for JEANNE DIELMAN, 23 QUAI DE COMMERCE, 1080, BRUXELLES, one I keep meaning to re-see. 

Philip French, aged 82. For 50 years he was the influential film critic for the London "Guardian" and also author His top 50 films from the last five decades are on this Guardian website: http://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/apr/13/features.culture2

Geoffrey Howe (1926-2015), aged 88 - a week after the death of his old political colleague and foe Denis Healey (RIP label). Howe was a likeable Conservative politician who famously brought down Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, whom he had served for years as Foreign Secretary and Chancellor, with his resignation speech in 1990, when he rebelled against her leadership style. His opposite number Denis Healey famously compared a Howe broadside to being “savaged by a dead sheep” – his ponderous, monotone exterior concealed a subtle wit, a profound legal intelligence and a dogged bravery.

Illtyd Harrington (1931-2015), aged 84. British Labour politician who was deputy Mayor of London in the 1980. The flamboyant (newspeak for gay) and Welsh Harrington was often in the news for us Londoners, An old-fashioned Labour man, he later wrote about the arts, books and politics for "The Camden News Journal" newspaper and was a board member of The National Theatre.