Dead Pool 6th May 2018

Welcome to a special bank holiday edition of the Dead Pool Newsletter where nothing special is added. Not a lot to report, no points to be awarded, but it’ll give you something to read when you’re perched upon your throne. 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

• Michael Martin, Baron Martin of Springburn, 72, British politician, MP (1979–2009) and Speaker of the House of Commons (2000–2009).
• Cathy Godbold, 43, Australian actress (The Saddle Club, Home and Away), brain cancer.  
• Abi Ofarim, 80, Israeli musician (“Cinderella Rockefella“) and dancer.  
• Steve Coy, 56, British musician (Dead or Alive).

In Other News

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had emergency surgery on Saturday for a brain haemorrhage. A United statement said the procedure “had gone very well” but Ferguson “needs a period of intensive care to optimise his recovery”. The Scot, 76, retired as United manager in May 2013 after winning 38 trophies during 26 years in charge. He was at Old Trafford last Sunday when he presented Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger with a commemorative trophy. Ferguson’s family have requested privacy as he recovers in Salford Royal Hospital. 

BBC presenter Andrew Marr will have an operation this week to remove a malignant tumour on his kidney. The former political editor is expected to  “make a full recovery and will be returning to the airwaves soon”, his agent Mary Greenham said. The broadcaster will not be hosting his weekly Sunday programme, the Andrew Marr Show, while he recuperates. The broadcaster will not be hosting his weekly Sunday programme, the Andrew Marr Show, while he recuperates. He added: “I’m having a small hospital operation and I will be back as soon as I possibly can, so be kind please to whoever is sitting in this chair next week.” In her statement his agent added that he and his family “have asked for privacy at this difficult time”. The surgery comes five years after Marr suffered a stroke, which saw him take a nine-month break from his Sunday morning show. He spent two months in hospital, followed by months of physiotherapy to help him walk again.  He spent two months in hospital, followed by months of physiotherapy to help him walk again.He spent two months in hospital, followed by months of physiotherapy to help him walk again.  

A man was mauled to death by a bear after he reportedly tried to take a selfie with the creature. After stopping to go to the toilet on his way home from a wedding, Prabhu Bhatara is said to have spotted the injured animal in the Nabarangpur district of Odisha in India. His fellow SUV passengers obviously advised him against trying to take a picture with the creature. As he sidled up, the bear struck and a struggle ensued. A stray dog also stepped in and bit the bear but its intervention failed to deter the larger animal. Forest ranger Dhanurjaya Mohapatra said Mr Bhatara “died on the spot.” He added: “The bear is being treated for its injuries.” India had the highest rate of deaths linked to selfies for the two years between March 2014 and September 2016, with 60 per cent of all deaths taking place there, a study claimed last year. Of 127 reported selfie deaths in that period, 76 occurred in India, a collaborative study by researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and Indraprastha Institute of Information Delhi found. 

On This Day

• 1840 – The Penny Black postage stamp becomes valid for use in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.  
• 1889 – The Eiffel Tower is officially opened to the public at the Universal Exposition in Paris.  
• 1937 – Hindenburg disaster: The German zeppelin Hindenburg catches fire and is destroyed within a minute while attempting to dock at Lakehurst, New Jersey. Thirty-six people are killed.  
• 1954 – Roger Bannister becomes the first person to run the mile in under four minutes.  
• 1966 – Myra Hindley and Ian Brady are sentenced to life imprisonment for the Moors murders in England.  

Deaths

• 1910 – Edward VII of the United Kingdom (b. 1841)  
• 1919 – L. Frank Baum, American novelist (b. 1856)  
• 1992 – Marlene Dietrich, German-American actress and singer (b. 1901)

Last Week’s Birthdays

Henry Cavill (35), Zach McGowan (38), John Rhys-Davies (74), Lance Henriksen (78), Michael Palin (75), Richard E. Grant 61), Adele (30), Mitch Pileggi (66), Agnetha Fältskog(68), Jane Asher (72), Pharrell Williams (45), Jolene Blalock (43), Eva Mendes (44), Dean Stockwell (82), Matt Lucas (44), Penn Jillette (63), Jennifer Jason Leigh (56), Charlotte Rampling (72), Michael Sheen (49), Christopher Guest (70), Cristiano Ronaldo (33), Bradley Cooper (43), January Jones (40), Clancy Brown (59), Diane Keaton (72), Robert Duvall (87), Vinnie Jones (53), Marilyn Manson (49), Hayao Miyazaki (77), Gal Gadot (33), Kirsten Dunst (36), Burt Young (78), Michelle Pfeiffer (60), Daniel Day-Lewis (61), Uma Thurman (48), Kate Mulgrew (63), and Willie Nelson (85).