Tribute Thread for the Recently Passed Greats

Hear hear.I was 2 and a half when the first moon landing occurred, and my mum woke me up to watch it. I don't remember doing so, but Neil Armstrong (and Aldrin and Collins) always inspired me. I've often tried to conceptualise the courage they showed, and it is extremely difficult to grasp the half of it.

I don't know how many people here have watched Invictus (nor for that matter how much artistic licence was contained in it), but it paints a picture of a man of incredible wisdom, determination, intelligence, forgiveness, generosity and vision.There are so, so few people like him. I hope we find others.

A funny, wise, inventive and brilliant author, long since a big part of my own world, has just walked off with DEATH. Sir Terry Pratchett, renowned fantasy author, dies aged 66 - BBC NewsIf you haven't read any of his work, it's worth a go.

Buggritt !!

No book which included Nobby Nobbs was ever a waste :-)He could pen a good character name.

Kudos :Terry Pratchett’s name lives on in ‘the clacks’ with hidden web code | Terry Pratchett | The Guardian

I met a guy about 30 years ago who said he used to fag for David Jones (Bowie) (ie ran around school doing errands for him at Bromley).But then, given who he was, I suspect a number of us did.I grew up in the 80's, and wasn't there early enough to really appreciate his talent. Even I can understand his importance though. Rest in peace.

The man who took dead-pan and made it his own."The hospital ! What is it ?""It's a big building with patients, but that's not important right now."

Oops - my bad - I've made this mistake before, clicking on the most popular stories on the news site's side bar, and not reading the date of the story when the page loads.Ah well :-)

A quick Kangaroo Hop this evening, I think, by way of tribute.

He's found Serenity.

On one level, it's a shame that my enduring memory of him will be his marvelously self-deprecating and impressively comedic performance on the Morecombe and Wise show, over here in the 70s. His life and achievements are obviously much wider and deeper than that. But there is something wonderful about a prominent person who can take the mick out of themselves in the name of making us laugh.

I used to work near Notre Dame, and it is such a shame that so much of it has been lost. It's an amazing site, with such a powerful history and depth of meaning for the French people.I do find something striking though - maybe disturbing. I understand and fully share the view that our history and culture is incredibly important and never to be ignored. Notre Dame is a particularly powerful example of that. But in the space of 24 hours, hundreds of millions of Euros have been pledged to restore the building, with more monies pouring in by the minute. This for the restoration of a building which is at the heart of the Catholic Church, one of the wealthiest institutions in the world; at the heart of the French nation, which isn't exactly on the bread line; and probably in respect of damage caused by a contractor who will surely be insured. Why is this level of generosity lacking when it comes to feeding the poor; helping the ill and disabled; responding to global disasters ?I live in hope that any funds raised, and which aren't needed (eg due to insurance being available), will be used to address more urgent humanitarian needs. That would seem more reflective of the message which Notre Dame supports.

It’s the same with mosques - On average, 9 mosques have been targeted every month this year - CNN - there are a lot of nasty people out there.

That was the first info I googled - there’s lots of additional info. We get churches, mosques, temples, all sorts attacked and vandalised by morons in this country too.