Really Interesting People from the UK
JEANNE BOWKER, aged 93
Growing up in Norfolk in wartime, she was a talented actress who became a teacher. She dedicated her life to good causes.
GEORGE ABENDSTERN, aged 88
A refugee from Germany he spent most of his life working in industrial Lancashire, whilst pursuing many political activist causes – making a difference.
RUSSELL HARDY, aged 80
A jazz musician who formed a band with Ian Dury, he was on the verge of success when he quit to become a successful carpenter – returning to the stage just once.
NOREEN RIOLS, aged 98
Working for the SOE during the war, she helped train spies that went to France to fight the Nazis. Her job was to ensure agents were ready and fit for purpose.
Really Interesting People from Europe
ALLA OSIPENKO, aged 92
A great ballerina, she challenged the authority of the Soviet Union and was subsequently ostracised. She was a dancing partner of both Nureyev and Baryshnikov.
MARTHE COHN, aged 105
A Jewish nurse who became a French spy in Nazi Germany, putting her life in danger and taking enormous risks – but sending vital information to the Allies.
OLEG GORDIEVSKY, aged 86
A KGB officer, he became a double agent in the Cold War, spying for Britain. His escape from the USSR was audacious – but the Russians kept trying to kill him.
VALERIE ANDRE, aged 102
A trained doctor, she joined the French army and learned to fly helicopters, treating injured soldiers in battle. She was also the first female French general.
Really Interesting People from the World
MARA CORDAY, aged 95
A model and actress from California, she was the most photographed woman in the world, a star of sci-fi films and had her career ruined by her husband.
MARY McGEE, aged 87
From racing cars, to motorbikes and then motocross, she was a rider who entered and won races no other woman has done – and was still riding as a veteran.
GENE NORA JESSON, aged 87
A highly skilled pilot, she was one of the Mercury 13 – training to be a woman astronaut. This never came to fruition but she was one of the Three Musketeers.
GENE LeBELL, aged 89
A judo champion, a professional wrestler and a boxer, he became a Hollywood stuntman appearing in many famous films and popular television programmes.
