Really Interesting People from the UK
TREV HAYSOM, aged 81
Eleventh generation of a family of stone masons from Dorset, he was the world expert on Purbeck Marble. He worked on all the main cathedrals and many castles.
FREDDIE ROSS HANCOCK, aged 92
A publicist and agent to the stars, she fell in love with a famous comedian. A turbulent and violent relationship followed – until a tragic death ended it all.
JOSS NAYLOR, aged 88
Injury prone young farmer who took up fell running to recover and became the greatest ever in his sport, setting many records and achieving incredible feats.
BREN ORTON, aged 29
A brilliant young kayaker, he represented his country and achieved many amazing feats and helped younger people take up the sport – before meeting a tragic end.
Really Interesting People from Europe
MARK WHEELER, aged 74
An American academic who lived in the UK, he became the expert on Yugoslavia, helping rebuild the country after its dissolution, working for the United Nations.
SYLVAIN SAUDAN, aged 87
An extreme skier, he completed 23 first descents of mountains, invented a new sport and skiing style and broke world records and cheated death on two occasions.
EWY ROSQVIST, aged 94
A vet who turned to rally driving, she was European Champion before winning a men’s endurance race. She never crashed or broke down. The greatest of all time?
PHILIPPE DE GAULLE, aged 102
A war hero, admiral and politician who was denied deserved honours , his whole career and life was over shadowed by having an extremely famous father.
Really Interesting People from the World
MUTHONI WA KIRIMA, aged 92
Joining the Mau Mau in her native Kenya, to fight against colonial oppression, she rose to become Field Marshal, noted for her bravery and skill in battle.
YANG HUAIDING, aged 71
Rising from poverty as a factory worker, he took a gamble on China’s new stock market and became a multi-millionaire – and a national hero with it.
DOROTHY HOFFNER, aged 104
A resident of a Chicago nursing home, she broke the world record by doing a skydive aged 104. “Age is just a number.”
ZANDRA FLEMISTER, aged 71
The first African American female to be a Secret Service agent, protecting the President’s daughter, she suffered racism, so she resigned to become a diplomat.
