Famous faces no longer with us in 2011. . .

ONE month to go until the start of a new year, but whilst a load of us our getting ready to celebrate the Christmas cheer, some famous faces are no longer with us.  Here is my tribute to some of those who sadly will not be around during the festive season. . .

Gary Mason (British boxer) Died on 6 January, aged 48

Gary Mason was the British heavyweight champion in 1989 and one lost once, to Lennox Lewis in 38 professional fights.  He was part of a golden generation of British boxers around in the late 1980s and early 1990s.  He sadly was involved in a cycling collision with a van in South London on January 6, aged just 48 years of age.

Nat Lofthouse (Footballer) Died on 15 January, aged 85

One of Bolton Wanderers greatest ever players passed away in January, Nat Lofthouse.  He won 33 England caps between 1950 and 1958, scoring 30 goals and playing in the 1950 World Cup.  For club, he scored a staggering 255 goals for Bolton, captaining the team to success in the 1958 FA Cup final against Manchester United. 

Elizabeth Taylor (Movie actress) Died on 23 March, aged 79

It was a glittering movie career that made Elizabeth Taylor a star on the big screen.  She died from heart failure after a short illness in March.  Elizabeth won two Oscars for Best Actress and played a leading role in ‘Cleopatra,’ ‘Father of the Bride,’ and ‘Lassie Come Home,’ amongst other movies.  Her private life was also well documented; marrying eight times to seven separate husbands, but it is the movie memories that will remain with many.

Seve Ballesteros (European Golfer) Died on 7 May, aged 54

The game of golf was left rocked by the death of one of its most charismatic competitors in Seve Ballesteros.  Seve had a lengthy battle against illness over the past three years, but like all the time on the golf course, he took the battle to the bitter end.  Sadly, the brain cancer he had been diagnosed with was terminal.  He won the Open championship three times, was successful twice at the US Masters and captained Europe to Ryder Cup glory in his native homeland in 1997.  There is no doubt that he was a legend in golf and will always be one of the greats of the game.

Roy Skelton (Actor) Died on 8 June, aged 79

The name doesn’t stand out in the acting world, but Roy Skelton’s voice certainly did.  He had a showbiz career that spanned 53 years, with his last in February 2008, voicing two characters in the first episode of BBC series Ashes to Ashes.  Roy’s impact on television was as providing the voices of Zippy and George on the kids programme Rainbow from the early 1970s until 1992.  He passed away quietly in his home after suffering a stroke.

Betty Ford (First Lady) Died on 8 July, aged 93

Betty Ford was the first lady when Gerald Ford was president of the United States between 1973 and 1976.  She was a passionate individual, who devoted her time to raising awareness to issues such as abortion, equal pay and feminism.  She won the Congressional Gold Medal in 1998 for her hard work and became co-founder of the Betty Ford Centre in California in 1982, holding the role as president for 23 years.  Ill health in later years sadly took its toll on Betty, but she brought the role of being the president’s wife into prominence throughout the 1970s. 

Amy Winehouse (Singer) Died on 23 July, aged 27

The media has had plenty of field days in recent years, documenting the private life of Amy Winehouse all over the tabloid newspapers.  However, she did have a powerful and passionate voice, as was proven by hit songs such as ‘Rehab.’  She was found dead in her London flat in July, aged just 27 years old.

Janey Cutler (Singer) Died on 24 August, aged 82

Janey Cutler is another face whose career got a revelation in her later years of life.  She was one of the stars of the 2010 series of ITV’s summer reality hit, Britain’s Got Talent.  Despite some concern over her health, Janey finished a creditable ninth in the final, won by gymnast act Spelbound.  She then went on to perform on the BGT live tour and got to achieve her dream of singing infront of millions.

Ginger McCain (Horse Racing trainer) Died on 19 September, aged 80

Aintree will be missing something next year and that will be Ginger McCain’s presence.  Ginger lost his battle with cancer in September, just two days before his 81^st birthday.  He is one of the most successful trainers of all-time in horse racing and despite never winning at Cheltenham, formed a formidable partnership with Red Rum, as the greatest horse to have ever lived won three Grand Nationals in 1973, 1974 and 1977.  He took a fourth triumph with Amberleigh House in 2004 and this year, the dynasty continued in the McCain family, as his son trained Ballabriggs to glory in 2011.

Steve Jobs (Founder of Apple) Died on 5 October, aged 56

The world lost a genius in early October, when the founder of Apple, Steve Jobs passed away after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer.  Jobs was responsible for reviving Apple’s fortunes and spearheaded major technological change, such as the iPad, iPhone and iPod.  Apple will move on and continue, but the world will struggle to find another technological genius.

Dan Wheldon (Double Indy 500 winner) Died on 16 October, aged 33

Two-time Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon was tragically killed in a massive 15-car pile-up during the IndyCar season finale in Las Vegas.  He was only competing as part of an incentive set by organisers to pass every car in the field and win a massive jackpot prize.  Having struggled to find a breakthrough in Europe, Dan moved to America in 1999 and had great success, winning the IndyCar title in 2005 and the prestigious Indy 500 race twice, most recently back in May.  He leaves behind a great legacy for both American and British motorsport.

Marco Simoncelli (MotoGP rider) Died on 23 October, aged 23

Marco Simoncelli had everything going for him as a MotoGP star of the future.  He had taken one pole position and two podiums this season for the Gresini Honda team and his flair and style on the bike meant life was never dull when Simoncelli was around.  He was killed at the penultimate event of the season in Malaysia, when he crashed and was struck by two fellow competitors.  The MotoGP paddock will be a poorer place next season without Simoncelli around.

Sir Jimmy Saville (DJ & Actor) Died on 29 October, aged 84

Television presenter, media personality and a massive fundraiser for many charities, Sir Jimmy Saville will be best known for being a long-standing host on Top of the Pops and for his own BBC television show Jim’ll Fix It.  He had been recently treated in hospital for pneumonia before his death.  Sir Jimmy though has left plenty of catchphrases and moments that people will never forget.

Joe Frazier (Former Heavyweight Boxing Champion) Died on 7 November, aged 67

Liver cancer may have claimed the life of Joe Frazier, but the memories will always remain of a glittering boxing career.  He won 27 fights in his career, only being beaten by two of the greats, Muhammad Ali and George Foreman along the way.  Joe was a true fighter to the end.

Gary Speed (Welsh football manager) Died on 27 November, aged 42

Gary Speed had a great football career and had a potential brilliant career as a manager ahead of him.  He was transforming the fortunes around of the Welsh national team and is still the leading outfield Welsh player to win international caps.  He played for Leeds United, Everton and Newcastle United amongst other clubs, winning the First Division championship in 1992.  Gary was found hanged in his home, just 24 hours after a positive appearance on the BBC’s Football Focus show.

Elizabeth Taylor - A Hollywood legend

Elizabeth Taylor (February 27 1932 - March 23 2011)

AFTER months of medical treatment, the fantastic and hugely popular Hollywood actress Dame Elizabeth Taylor has died.  She passed away, surrounded by her four children from congestive heart failure on Wednesday morning.  The British-born icon died in Los Angeles, aged 79.

     Often regarded by many as one of the greatest ever movie stars to have graced Hollywood, Elizabeth’s numerous marriages, countless divorces and love for diamonds had the world captivated for over half a century.  Born in London, her family moved to America when she was only seven years of age, and this is where the great love affair stateside began.

     Just five years later, Elizabeth’s glamorous look had won her a film contract and made her become a household name.  National Velvet was the first movie she starred in, as a budding teenage show jumper way back in 1944.  More films followed, but it was her appearance alongside fellow screen legend Paul Newman in the film ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ that really turned her from national hit into global superstar.

     Acting was important, but off-screen, Elizabeth’s complicated romances had already begun.  Having already experienced two broken engagements, she married for the first time at 18, to hotel owner Conrad Hilton jnr.  The marriage only lasted a year, and was to be the start of a familiar pathway.  Actor Michael Wilding was her second marriage, which was more successful.  They were hitched for five years and he gave Elizabeth the first two of her four children.  Film producer Mike Todd was husband no.3, providing Elizabeth with a third child.  Todd was killed in a plane crash, leaving the young Taylor a paled widow at the just 26.

STARRING: Elizabeth's role in Cleopatra was her greatest moment

     Elizabeth’s desire to be happy was starting to become over-excessive and there was little support when just a year after Todd’s death, she ran off with husband of her best friend Debbie Reynolds, Eddie Fisher.  Her golden hour came in 1962, when she landed the mega part of Queen of the Nile, Cleopatra in ‘Cleopatra,’ one of the greatest movies of a all-time.  Off-camera, she had found love in Richard Burton.  It would be the start of a very tempestuous relationship.  Fifteen years of drama, heavy drinking, stormy rows and ultimately, two marriages.  Together, Taylor and Burton appeared in ten films together, with Taylor’s role in ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ winning her a second Oscar in 1967. 

     By the time Burton and Taylor divorced for a second time in 1976, Elizabeth’s glamorous lifestyle was started to get affected.  She suffered from chronic back problems, struggled to control her weight and continued to drink excessively.  When her good friend Rock Hudson died from AIDS in 1985, Elizabeth took up a new and unexpected role.  She founded the American Foundation for AIDS research, which allowed Taylor to promote and heighten the awareness of the little-known disease.  As her own health deteriorated, Elizabeth checked herself into the Betty Ford Treatment Centre.  Having battled with drink and drugs for several years, it was a reality check for Taylor; face death, or get cleaned up. 

     It was whilst recovering that she embarked on an eighth marriage, this time to fellow addict Larry Fortensky.  They married in 1991, but it ended five years later, like most of the other marriages; in divorce.  In 2000, Elizabeth was made a Dame for her services to acting and her immensely successful charity work.  She admitted afterwards that it was ‘the crowning achievement of her career.’ 

     As her ill health continued to plague her, public appearances became less frequent.  Apart from a brief guest role on The Simpsons, AIDS funded events were the only occasions that Elizabeth could be seen for the cameras.  She struck up a very close and personal friendship with the singer Michael Jackson and was devastated by Jackson’s death in the summer of 2009.  A month later, Elizabeth underwent heart surgery and recently, was admitted back to hospital due to her delicate condition last month.

     To the end, Elizabeth Taylor retained her magic and glamour.  A turbulent personal life in the public spotlight, combined with a history of poor health and ultimately, a very successful acting career, she touched the lives of many.  Her death is a shock to many and although her loss to the film and acting world is a masterpiece of understatement, her legacy will remain forever.

RIP Elizabeth Taylor (February 27 1932 – March 23 2011)