TESSA GAISMAN, aged 67
Always at Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s side, she was her Diary Secretary and was present for all the significant events in her premiership. Tessa also made a significant contribution to the world of music.
SERGIO COSTA, aged 72
The Costa family emigrated from Italy to England and started a coffee business. Sergio became CEO and turned the business into the multi-million pound generating Costa Coffee.
IAN GILCHRIST, aged 69
One time Mayor of the city of Bath he dedicated his term of office to encouraging music and drama – and became known for his dramatic ride in a bobsleigh.
YURI AVERBAKH, aged 100
A qualified engineer who became a Chess Grandmaster and referee, as well as being a noted writer on chess. He was the first ever centenarian Chess Grandmaster.
JOHN ARTIS, aged 75
Framed for murder alongside famous boxer Rubin Carter, he spent many years trying to prove his innocence
MIKHAIL VASENKOV, aged 79
A Russian KGB officer, he was trained as a sleeper. He lived in Peru, then as a college professor in the USA before being caught by the FBI. He was then involved in the biggest spy swap ever.
ROSSANA BANTI, aged 96
Red in name, red in dress, red in politics, Rossana was one of the “Terrible Girls of Rome”, in the Italian Resistance during the war. Later she was part of the SOE – code number 007. In later life she was a television producer.
JEAN-PIERRE ADAMS, aged 73
Born in Senegal he had a troubled upbringing in France. He then became an international footballer before a minor operation went wrong and he ended up in a coma for 39 years.
BARRY ST JOHN, aged 76
Singer who performed in Glasgow, Hamburg and London, she had a short solo career but sang with many leading performers and on one of the most famous songs of all time.
DENNIS BUSBY, aged 101
He worked as a lab-boy for significant scientists and became the first person in the world to have a flu vaccine. He went on to work for the WHO and made an important medical contribution himself.
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