Famous people you will be sad to hear have died

[xoggoth]

What no "Famous people you will be glad to hear have died" thread yet?

[wobbegong]

Norman Wisdom.

[TimberWolf]

Freeman Dyson. For having a cool name, and when he talks balls, they're really really big.

I've just got around to reading my open browser tab on Freeman Dyson. Seems that he has been a busy chappie. Amongst other things, he helped create the field of operational research. I did that at uni, but it hasn't stuck in long term memory and never found a use. All I remember of it now is that involved a lot of crossings out or something in a grid for doing optimisations I think, and some simulations. Is it worth brushing up on, or has it been superseded by programming? Does anyone here use operational research methods?

[shaunbhoy]

Billy Connolly
Bill Bryson
Billy McNeill

and just so I am not accused of being "Billyist", Nelson Mandela!!!

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Patrick Moore, what a star
Margaret Thatcher
Peter Snow (although his son is his clone and he may have stopped doing the election night stuff)
Bruce Forsyth (I'm not a big fan, but it will be the end of an era)

I've got Thatcher in an e/w double with Michael Parkinson

I wouldn't be sad to see Ronnie Irani or his fat mate Alan Brazil belly up.

[Ruprect]

Queen Mum

[PRC1964]

Ian Hislop - He has entertained me for many years.
Ian Botham - A cricketing lifeline for those many ashes-less years.
Lech Walesa - A trade unionist who actually helped his union/country rather than himself.