DIANA MELLY, aged 87
She met a series of husbands in nightclubs before marrying a famous jazz singer and becoming his manager and helper. It was a very unconventional marriage.
BRIAN SHERRIFF, aged 94
A designer of women’s underwear, he became a beekeeper after going bust and designed a revolutionary suit to protect people from bee stings.
DAPHNE SELFE, aged 97
A model and actress, she retired when she married. In her seventies she made a comeback and became an international sensation – the oldest model in the world.
COLIN TULLY, aged 66
A brilliant musician who wrote film scores, played Glastonbury, appeared on famous TV shows and won Eurovision, and who ended up growing beans and keeping fit.
DOUG MOLLER, aged 89
He lived with his wife in the most primitive of conditions in rural Staffordshire and went to war with hikers, climbers, local authorities and the police.
NORTON LEE, aged 98
After surviving the Arctic Convoys and wartime missions to Sicily, Salerno and Malta, he played a key role in D-Day. He was present at the Nazi surrender in the Netherlands and retired to be a huntsman.
DAVE WINTOUR, aged 77
A session musician who appeared on Top of the Pops, with many famous artists and on numerous records, he eventually became a member of the west country band The Wurzels.
LORNA COCKAYNE, aged 97
Recruited to Bletchley Park during the war she became one of the first ever computer operators – and read Hitler’s messages.
MARK RAFFLES, aged 100
From ARP warden to ENSA magician, he entertained troops in WW2. He then became a TV and variety star and was the world’s oldest active magician.
IAN HAMILTON KC, aged 97
Liberation or theft? He committed one of the most scandalous ‘crimes’ of the 1950s, but it didn’t stop him going on to become a barrister.
TOM KAREN, aged 96
After escaping the Nazis as a boy, he grew up to be the greatest modern designer of our times – toys, bikes, cars, caravans, artwork. You name it, he made it.
NUTMEG, aged 75
After working in a university she took up crossword setting after retirement and became a regular in four publications, becoming a favourite in the world of puzzling.
WEE WILLIE HARRIS, age 90
Britain’s first rock and roller. Diminutive with bright pink hair and an outrageous stage show – but he never had a hit. His backing singer became a major star.
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