Lasting Tribute blog

Author who gave Belle & Sebastian their name

2010-07-21T11:00:00.002+01:00

French actress and children's writer Cécile Aubry has died at the age of 81.

Her best known creation was the book Belle et Sébastien, about a young boy and his mountain dog.

This was of course the inspiration for the quirky indie band Belle & Sebastian who formed in 1996.

The book became a television series which was dubbed into English in the 1960s. Cécile's own son played the role of Sebastian and also sang the haunting theme tune.

Her best known film was The Black Rose with Tyrone Power and Orson Welles.

Bravery of another true hero revealed

2010-07-19T11:54:00.003+01:00

The bravery of Staff Sergeant Brett Linley - named this morning as the bomb disposal expert killed on Saturday - has been revealed by Lt Col Gerald Strickland.

He has spoken about the 29-year-old from Birmingham in glowing terms on the Ministry of Defence website: "After a soldier had been killed in an IED strike, Staff Sergeant Linley went forward to clear the area so that the soldier's personal effects could be recovered. I sat 50-metres away as the sun dipped in the sky watching his lone figure edging down a wood line, step by painstaking step. In the space of an hour, on his own, he found three more IEDs.

"There was no fanfare, he simply dealt with each device, and then silently moved on to the next. He did much more for us, both before and after this event, but it is a mark of the man that he was ever calm, utterly professional, and never made a fuss.

"He was a true hero who knew the risks of his job, but never hesitated to step forward into danger. "

Eight more soldiers on our roll of honour

2010-07-19T10:58:00.004+01:00

It's been another tragic week for British troops in Afghanistan - and their families and friends back home.

Eight more tribute pages have been added to the Heroes of Afghanistan section of Lasting Tribute in the last week.

They include the three soldiers killed by a rogue Afghan soldier on July 13, 2010.

Three more were named over the weekend: Gunner Kinikki "Griff" Griffiths from the RAF Regiment who died in a vehicle accident on Friday; Royal Marine Jonathan Crookes killed by an explosion on the same day and Sergeant David Monkhouse from the Royal Dragoon Guards who died in an explosion on Saturday.

A soldier from The Royal Logistic Corps, serving with the Counter-IED Task Force, who died on Saturday is expected to be publicly named later today.

Messages of support, and updates from the families and friends of killed and injured soldiers continue to flood in to our Facebook page honouring all the fallen heroes.

Among recent contributions was a touching message from Denise Isaac describing the emotional funeral for Private Alex Isaac last Friday.

Hope of finding Manic Street Preachers guitarist lives on

2010-07-08T10:39:00.001+01:00

The sister of former Manic Street Preachers guitarist Richey Edwards hasn’t lost hope of finding the troubled star.

Richey went missing in February 1995 and is widely believed to have committed suicide, though there have been rumours of sightings ever since.

Edwards was officially declared presumed dead in November 2008.

But his sister Rachel Elias said she still retains a “residue of hope that he may still be alive”.

In an interview with the South Wales Echo she said: “All I know is he wouldn’t have meant to leave this dark cloud hanging over anyone, but until he’s found – alive or dead – we can’t rest.”

Soldier killed in Afghanistan was a father-to-be

2010-07-07T10:09:00.003+01:00

Trooper James Leverett, who died in Afghanistan on Monday, was expecting his first child.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed the death of the Royal Dragoon Guards soldier this morning.

Trooper Leverett’s girlfriend Tiffany is due to give birth to a son in September.

The 20-year-old from Yorkshire was killed in an explosion while on security duty at the building of a new civilian transport link in Helmand.

Click here to add condolences to Trooper James Leverett’s family.

A second soldier is due to be named in the next 24 hours. The Ministry of Defence has also confirmed that a Royal Marine killed last week will not be named at the present time.

German World Cup-winner remembered ahead of semi final clash

2010-07-06T10:25:00.000+01:00

As the German national side prepare for their World Cup semi-final against Spain tomorrow, it seems a fitting time to remember former captain and World Cup-winner Herbert Erhardt.

He died on Saturday, the day the current side beat Argentina 4-0. Today would have been his 80th birthday.

Erhardt won 50 caps for his country during the 1950s and early ’60s and was a member of the squad who secured Germany’s first World Cup trophy in 1954 in Switzerland.

The tough-tackling defender played his club football for the Bavarian sides SpVgg Fürth and Bayern Munich and was considered among the greatest to have played for either club.

Which was Dame Beryl's greatest novel?

2010-07-02T14:20:00.005+01:00

The sad news that the grande dame of British literature, Dame Beryl Bainbridge, died this morning aged 75 has sparked a debate on the Guardian website about which was her greatest novel.

I have to agree with the first person who has commented on her Lasting Tribute page that for me it is An Awfully Big Adventure, the 1989 novel made into a film in 1995 starring Alan Rickman and Hugh Grant thereby bringing her writing to a new audience.

It reached the Booker Prize shortlist, as did four others - The Dressmaker (1973), The Bottle Factory Outing (1974), Every Man for Himself (1996) and Master Georgie (1998). Sadly none of them made it.

But she did deservedly win The Whitbread Novel Award twice, in 1977 and 1996, and the Guardian fiction prize.

In 2008 the Times newspaper named Dame Beryl among their list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945".

Royal Marine killed

2010-07-02T12:29:00.001+01:00

The MoD have confirmed that a Royal Marine was killed in Afghanistan yesterday, 1 July, 2010.

Nicky Campbell's tribute to Alan Robb

2010-07-02T10:30:00.004+01:00

Listeners to this morning's breakfast show on BBC 5live will have heard presenter Nicky Campbell pay an emotional tribute to his childhood friend and later work colleague the broadcaster Alan Robb who has died aged 49.

Mr Robb is probably best-known for presenting the midday news on 5live from 1994 to 2006.

He had been battling multiple sclerosis for a number of years.

Nicky Campbell said it was one of the saddest days of his life. He described Mr Robb as "a great broadcaster and professional".

He recalled how Mr Robb never lost his pride in working for the BBC: "He pointed up to Broadcasting House and said 'we work there for the BBC'. He never forgot that."

Mr Robb worked in commercial radio in Scotland before joining the BBC, first at BBC Radio Scotalnd before moving to London.

Lottery-winning Torquay football director dies

2010-07-01T09:52:00.001+01:00

A lottery winner who pumped his jackpot money into his beloved football club has died.

Paul Bristow and his wife Thea hit the headlines in 2004 when they won £15 million on the National Lottery.

Mr Bristow then became a director at Torquay United, the club he had supported since childhood, when a local consortium took over the club in 2007.

As vice-chairman he invested hundreds of thousands into the club, helping them stay in business during tough financial times.

As well as football, Mr Bristow had been a scout leader for 23 years and treated his scout group to a trip to Salzburg on his winnings.

Man jailed for 30 years for chilling taxi driver murder

2010-06-30T10:28:00.003+01:00

A man who killed a taxi driver while trying to commit the ‘perfect murder’ has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Colin Cheetham (right) was sentenced yesterday at Nottingham Crown Court for the murder of Stuart Ludlam, a father-of-three from Derbyshire.

Cheetham, a loner and gun fanatic, shot Mr Ludlam (right, with sons Jonathan and Matthew) dead after calling for a taxi at Cromford rail station on 17 September last year.

He was arrested ten days later after police traced a mobile phone top-up card he used to call the taxi firm.

Justice Alistair MacDuff said Cheetham, 66, was an “evil” man “lacking any sense of humanity”.

Bomb disposal expert killed in Afghanistan was also proud father

2010-06-29T14:25:00.003+01:00

The Ministry of Defence has announced the name of the British bomb disposal expert killed in Afghanistan at the weekend.

Corporal Jamie Kirkpatrick was fatally wounded in a small gun battle with insurgents on Sunday.

He served with the 101 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) an was part of the part of the Counter-IED Task Force in Helmand.

The 32-year-old was originally from Edinburgh and lived in Llanelli in South Wales.

He and his wife Heidi had one daughter, Holly.

They said he was “a larger than life individual” and “a proud soldier, friend, brother, husband and daddy.”

Read more tributes to Corporal Jamie Kirkpatrick on his Lasting Tribute page.

Bill Aucoin, manager of Kiss, dies

2010-06-29T11:41:00.001+01:00

The man who brought glam rockers Kiss to the world has died.

Bill Aucoin, who was 66, spotted the make-up and leather-clad group’s musical and marketing potential at an early show in 1973 and volunteered his services.

Over the next decade his blood, sweat and credit cards helped them become one of the biggest bands on the planet.

He also went on to manage rock star-era Billy Idol and Eurovision winners Lordi.

Get the full lowdown on Bill Aucoin’s career here.

Alan Plater: man of integrity

2010-06-28T12:01:00.007+01:00

Tributes have been flooding in to award-winning and prolific playwright and screenwriter Alan Plater who died from cancer on Friday.

He had moved to the city of Hull as a youngster and was a fervent fan of Hull City and a visiting professor at the University of Hull's drama department.

Staff there remembered him as "a man of outstanding integrity, great breadth of talent, unfailing good humour and a valued friend".

Another of Hull's great writing talents, John Godber, has also revealed that Alan played a major part in helping him launch his own career as a playwright.

John said: "He was a real advocate for Hull and the region and a life-long Hull City fanatic.

"He was also a great bloke."

One soldier named as one more dies

2010-06-28T11:51:00.004+01:00

Scottish father-of-two Bombardier Stephen Gilbert has been named as the soldier who died from his injuries in a British hospital on Armed Forces Day this Saturday - 16 days after an explosion in Afghanistan.

He was described as a soldier who was the perfect role model for young recruits to emulate.

He left a wife and two young sons.

Meanwhile a soldier from 101 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) was killed in Afghanistan yesterday.

He was attached to the Joint Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group, part of the Counter Improvised Explosive Device Task Force, and was shot dead in the Nahr-e Saraj District of Helmand Province.

He has not yet been named - but next-of-kin have been informed.

Volunteer reservist among four killed in RTA

2010-06-27T08:55:00.003+01:00

One of the four soldiers killed in a road accident in Afghanistan on Wednesday had left the Army - but returned as a volunteer reservist.

He was Lance Corporal David Ramsden, serving with the Yorkshire Regiment.

The others who died were Colour Sergeant Martyn Horton, Private Douglas Halliday and Private Alex Issac all of the Mercian Regiment.

Each one has an individual tribute page in our Heroes of Afghanistan section where you can add your condolences and read many tributes from their comrades.

Founding member of The Kinks Pete Quaife dies

2010-06-25T11:58:00.004+01:00

The original bass player of seminal 1960s band The Kinks, Pete Quaife, has died at the age of 66.

Quaife began the group in 1962 with schoolfriend Dave Davies and they went on to innumerable hits around the world.

He left in 1969 after becoming fed up with the infighting within The Kinks, and retired from the music industry the following year.

He later worked as a graphic designer and only appeared on stage a couple more times with The Kinks.

Pay tribute to Pete Quaife of The Kinks here.

Four more soldiers die in Afghanistan

2010-06-24T11:10:00.003+01:00

A bloody week in Afghanistan continues with the news that a further four British soldiers have died in Afghanistan.

This comes after four Royal Marines also lost their lives in the Helmand province, meaning eight men have been killed in four days.

Three soldiers from 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment and one soldier from 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, as yet unnamed, died yesterday the Ministry of Defence says.

The latest fatalities to be named are Marine Michael Taylor and Marine Steven Darbyshire.

The total number of British service personnel killed in Afghanistan reached the 300 mark on Sunday with the death of Marine Richard Hollington.

4th Royal Marine to die in four days

2010-06-23T14:28:00.003+01:00

While most of the country gears up for the England game, there's sobering news that a fourth Royal Marine from 40 Commando has died in as many days.

The latest fatality occurred when marines on a security patrol came under fire from insurgents and the Royal Marine - as yet unnamed - was shot dead.

Another marine is due to be named later today following another shooting yesterday.

This morning it was revealed that the Royal Marine who died in an explosion on Monday was 23-year-old Paul Warren from Lancashire. On Sunday, Marine Richard Hollington died in a Birmingham hospital from injuries he sustained in an explosion on 12 June.

Marine Warren - one of the bravest of the brave

2010-06-23T11:04:00.004+01:00

Tributes are flowing in for Lancashire-born Royal Marine Paul Warren who died following an explosion in Afghanistan on Monday.

Marine Warren was 23 and serving with Charlie Company, 40 Commando Royal Marines . He had signed up in May 2006.

His Commanding Officer, Major Ed Moorhouse, said: "Marine Paul Warren was something special in Charlie Company, and that is an accolade I use sparingly in the close knit band of brothers that we are, where all excel in doing their duty in the most challenging of environments in Sangin.

"In singling out Marine Paul Warren, this accolade rightly describes a man who volunteered and acted as Point Man for every patrol which his Section undertook in Sangin; in my eyes these men, ‘on point’, are the bravest of the brave."

Another Marine from the same unit died yesterday in an exchange of gunfire with insurgents and is likely to be publicly named later today.

Third Royal Marine dies in three days

2010-06-22T17:50:00.003+01:00

A Royal Marine from 40 Commando was shot dead by insurgents in Afghanistan this afternoon.

He is the third soldier from the same unit to die in three days.

On Sunday, Marine Richard Hollington died in a Birmingham hospital from injuries he sustained in an explosion in Afghanistan on 12 June.

Yesterday a second Marine was killed in an explosion.

The most recent deaths brought the total of troops killed since fighting began to 302.

The Marines killed yesterday and today have not yet been publicly named but their next of kin have been informed.

300th British fatality in Afghanistan named and another announced

2010-06-22T11:33:00.004+01:00

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed the name of the man who brought the Afghanistan death toll up to 300 – and said that a further serviceman has lost his life.

Royal Marine Richard Hollington had been hurt by an explosion on 12 June and died at New Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham on Sunday.

The 23-year-old was from Petersfield, Hampshire. His parents and younger brothers Nick and Charlie were at his bedside.

Prior to joining the Royal Marines, Richard played semi professional football for Fareham Town Football Club.

He served with 40 Commando Royal Marines, as did the newly-announced fatality.

Next of kin have been informed and have asked for a period of grace before further details are released.

Pay tribute to Richard Hollington here.

Join our ‘Heroes of Afghanistan’ Facebook group

Frank Sidebottom creator dies

2010-06-22T10:01:00.003+01:00

Chris Sievey, the musical comedian who created the freakish alter ego Frank Sidebottom, has died after collapsing at his Manchester home.

The 54-year-old was pronounced dead at Wythenshawe Hospital.

The character of Sidebottom was known for his over-sized, cartoon-like papier-mache head and performing parodies of popular hits in his Mancunian twang.

His was frequently seen on television and heard on the radio during the ’80s. He fell into obscurity in the following decade but made a comeback in 2005 and landed his own show on digital television.

The character of Frank Sidebottom was created as a gimmick to promote Sievey’s 1970s punk band The Freshies.

Read more about Chris Sievey’s career on his tribute page.

Italy held to draw as they pay World Cup tribute to former great

2010-06-21T12:05:00.001+01:00

The Italian team wore black armbands in yesterday’s World Cup game against New Zealand in honour of a former European Championship winner.

Roberto Rosato, who died earlier in the day, was part of the team that lifted the trophy in 1968.

He also won the European Cup and a host of other top trophies with AC Milan.

Unfortunately the Italian side didn’t do Rosato proud, being held to an ignoble 1-1 draw against the antipodeans.

Royal Marine is 300th fatality of Afghanistan campaign

2010-06-21T10:14:00.003+01:00

The death of the 300th British service person in Afghanistan has been announced by the Ministry of Defence.

He was a Royal Marine from 40 Commando regiment. Next of kin have been informed and have asked for a period of grace before further details are released.

Secretary of State for Defence, Liam Fox, said: “The last nine years have seen British forces at the forefront of the campaign, for the last five working hard in one of the most challenging areas of the country building Afghan capacity to secure and govern their own country – a process which ultimately will allow us to bring our forces home.

“Our Armed Forces are the best in the world, operating daily in the most dangerous and demanding conditions. Some have made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure this essential mission succeeds.”

Operations began in the country in 2001, shortly after the September 11 attack on the USA, and the first fatality was Lance Corporal Darren John George in April 2002.

You can pay tribute to all 300 British fatalities in Afghanistan on Lasting Tribute.