11/01/2026
Norwich, GB 3 C
Researching and reporting on the lives of some really interesting people (RIP)

TED CORDERY, aged 96

Serving in the Royal Navy during the war, he was on the arctic convoys before being present at D-Day. In later life he stood up to a notorious media mogul.

CHARLOTTE ‘BETTY’ WEBB, aged 101

After joining the army during the war, she became a codebreaker working at Bletchley Park, before being seconded to the USA and being employed at the Pentagon.

PATRICIA CROWTHER, aged 97

An actress who discovered spirituality and became a High Priestess of Wicca – a white witch. She was a broadcaster – and used her powers for healing and good.

THE KESSLER TWINS, aged 89

Escaping East Germany, they were Europe’s hottest stars, performing with the greats. They were inseparable spending every moment together – in life and death.

MAYA WIDMAIER PICASSO, aged 87

The oldest daughter of Pablo Picasso, she had a close relationship with him, eventually becoming the custodian of his work – and falling out with her brother.

Really Interesting People from the UK

TED CORDERY, aged 96

Serving in the Royal Navy during the war, he was on the arctic convoys before being present at D-Day. In later life he stood up to a notorious media mogul.

CHARLOTTE ‘BETTY’ WEBB, aged 101

After joining the army during the war, she became a codebreaker working at Bletchley Park, before being seconded to the USA and being employed at the Pentagon.

PATRICIA CROWTHER, aged 97

An actress who discovered spirituality and became a High Priestess of Wicca – a white witch. She was a broadcaster – and used her powers for healing and good.

GODFREY FOWLER, aged 90

A university lecturer and GP, who treated Oxford’s elite, he was a medical research pioneer, but eventually he suffered a terrible personal tragedy.

Really Interesting People from Europe

THE KESSLER TWINS, aged 89

Escaping East Germany, they were Europe’s hottest stars, performing with the greats. They were inseparable spending every moment together – in life and death.

MAYA WIDMAIER PICASSO, aged 87

The oldest daughter of Pablo Picasso, she had a close relationship with him, eventually becoming the custodian of his work – and falling out with her brother.

MARGOT HEUMAN, aged 94

She lost her family in the Holocaust and survived concentration and labour camps, bombing and the Death March. She was the first Holocaust survivor to come out.

Really Interesting People from the World

JIM GORDON, aged 77

A talented drummer who played with most of the greats of the 60s and 70s, and was part of a famous band, but did he steal a famous song? Eventually he was charged with murder.

ED SMYLIE, aged 95

An aeronautical engineer who worked for NASA, he saved the lives of the three astronauts on Apollo 13 by a piece of brilliant improvisation.

KANCHHA SHERPA, aged 92

After a poverty-stricken upbringing, he was selected as a sherpa for the 1953 expedition to conquer Mount Everest. He was the last survivor of that mission.