12/12/2024
Norwich, GB 7 C
Researching and reporting on the lives of some really interesting people (RIP)

RALPH EHRMANN, aged 97

From being an RAF navigator, he rose to be Chairman of the toy company Airfix, using his experience to design models – and transformed the British toy market.

LANCE MACKEY, aged 52

Known as The People’s Champion, he was a ‘musher’, who completed in, and won, dog sled races in Alaska. However, his career was blighted by controversy.

DON WALSH, aged 92

One of the world’s great explorers, he was the first person to visit the bottom of the Mariana Trench in the Pacific – but remained relatively unknown.

ESTHER COOPER JACKSON, aged 105

A Civil Rights campaigner, she was active in many areas, including defending those wrongly accused of crimes. She gave a voice to the oppressed in her magazine.

JO-CARROLL DENNISON, aged 97

Brought up in a travelling show she went on to be a beauty queen winning Miss America. A wartime pin-up and actress she started to fight for women’s rights.

GRAHAM NEWBOULD, aged 66

The Queen’s personal chef who divulged her food likes and dislikes, and who also worked for Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

DAVID KIRKE, aged 78

He reacted to tragedy with great risk. He invented bungee jumping and microlighting and competed in extreme and dangerous sports, always facing great dangers.

PATRICIA RUANNE, aged 77

She had exceptional dancing skills and became a Prima Ballerina at a young age. She worked closely with Nureyev and became a celebrated ballet teacher.